Had a late dinner at Cento and it did not disappoint! I ordered the Tuscan kale Cesar salad and the scallops entree. Both were impeccable! My server, Prasad, was really the highlight! He was so sweet and informative. Went through the menu and described everything in such detail. My friend and I were visiting Madison for work and he offered us so many options to fill our free time. He takes so much pride in everything and it shows. The ambiance of the restaurant is a little on the nicer side, but they do allow casual attire. 10/10 recommend and can't wait to come back for the wine flight with the in house Somm. read more

It seems like one of the choice places to eat if you want freshly made pasta. We had the mixed greens, fried calamari, Tagliatelle, and the rhubarb cheesecake. I would order the rest again except for the calamari. Some pieces tasted good while others felt over-fried and chewy. It felt like some pieces were fried twice and less fresh. Pasta was the best dish IMO. Cheesecake was a close second. Service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable. I recommend making a reservation as this place gets busy by 5 pm. We fortunately got there by 4:45 pm and got seated. Special occasion place and it is off State Street in Downtown Madison. read more

See all

I hadn't been to Cento for several years. I was hoping to be wow'd. Unfortunately, it didn't start off well. I couldn't blame it on our server. She was fine. Courteous, friendly, and professional. I also liked the atmosphere. Perfect decor, dark tones with a cosmopolitan feel. Let's start with the apps. The calamari was overcooked, leathery and tough to chew. It was taken off our bill, but it should've needed to be. Calamari--overcooked at a high-end restaurant like this. That shouldn't happen. We got the meatballs as a replacement. Tasty. Perfectly cooked. Spicy (but the spiciness was inconsistent. Some bites were 'mild' and others were way more spicy. We were pleasantly surprised by the Tuscan Kale Caesar. We weren't fans of kale, this tasted really good. Fresh tasting, crunchy. The dressing had a mild taste. Just the right amount of dressing. The chicken parm was very good. Crunchy coating, not dry. The rigatoni served with it was just the way I like it, a touch al dente. The Bucatini alla Carbonara was very good. I added sausage to it, thinking it would be links, but it came crumbled. If I hadn't have done that, it would've been perfect creamy spicy. My friend enjoyed her scallops. They were soft and pillowy and accented well with cream pea and pancetta. The shrimp scampi was also well prepared. The shrimp had a nice bite, not chewy, and the pasta was well done. It was all nestled in warm buttery sauce. I liked the tiramisu. Presented in a cup. The custard cream (zabaglione) should be more light and fluffy, this was a bit thick, but that's ok. It still tasted real good. read more

See all

Amazing fine-dining food in the heart of downtown! Service was amazing as well especially considering myself and friends came on a Friday evening. Very chic vibes. We got this bacon wrapped appetizer that had a tomato sauce situation that was completely unlike any experience I've had for a bacon wrapped starter. In a good way. And the duck dish was also so good! read more

First time at Cento for a friend's birthday today and spoiler, will be back! We all went ahead with the Boozy Brunch for $35 a person, which comes with 2 cocktails, unlimited coffee, a pastry of your choice, and any entree on the menu. Drip coffee was delicious to start. I had the lobster fettuccine and there was PLENTY of lobster in it. Pasta tasted fresh and it hit the spot! Some of our party got the French toast which looked amazing and I'll probably try next time-- peaches and pecans with it! A few of them ordered bacon on the side too and it came with plenty of it, 3-4 long strips. Cannoli was the pastry I chose and it was the perfect sweet treat. Filling had cinnamon and was dipped in pistachios, which I will be back for! Ella was our server-- simply amazing! Super attentive, knows the menu like the back of her hand, and went above and beyond for us many times. Michael was one of the hosts who went out of his way to practically give us a photo shoot to capture my friend's special day. Beautiful restaurant with an elevated feel. Open environment while still making the table feel private. They were piping pastries while we were there which was fun to see. Went on a summer Saturday around 11, and if you're from Madison, you know that means the farmer's market (aka, make a plan A/B/C for parking, plan plenty of time to get there and be patient with the crowd outdoors). read more

See all

Came here after a work conference. Our vendor made the reservations in advance. We were greeted and brought to our table and the 5 of us sat in a large booth. The interior is very modern and upscale. Lots of drink selections and a pretty good wine menu. We got the bacon wrapped dates appetizer and it was very flavorful. Warm bread and butter arrived and that was Al's good. All of my party finished their food. I got the pasta and liked the texture of the noodles with the tag sauce. It's a good sized portion. When the dessert came we were not expecting one order of gelato to have 3 scoops! Not bad for $9!! But I'm from San Francisco so likely why I expected one scoop for $9 ha. I'll add this restaurant to my list for the next time I'm in downtown Madison! read more

See all

I have driven by for years, but never stopped in until last week. The place has a very nice feel and atmosphere and was not too busy despite being fully booked. They were able to squeeze us in early for our reservation and seemed very accommodating. We shared the bacon wrapped dates and the olive appetizer which was enormous. I had the salmon and it was well prepared and wild caught. Everyone enjoyed their meals! The server was very friendly, but could've been a little faster checking in with us, but otherwise a great experience and will be back! read more

We enjoyed the ambiance of Cento. The waitstaff was attentive but not intrusive. And there were so many choices on the menu. We both ordered pizzas. I had the Caprese pizza and thoroughly enjoyed it. My companion had the Funghi and Formaggi pizza and liked it as well. We both had leftovers for another meal!! I look forward to visiting Cento again and trying other things on the very interesting menu. read more

Cento - Caprese Pizza - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

I've been here during the day and at night, both times felt great. During the day, light pours in through the windows and makes the whole space feel fresh and open. At night, it's softer and more relaxed. The clean design and leather seating give it a kind of effortless elegance. It's a modern Italian spot that serves handmade pasta, pizza, and a few other seasonal dishes. Most times, I want a drink and their pasta by the bar. They carry a unique Japanese whisky I rarely see anywhere else, spotted it on this trip and was genuinely excited. My friend came specifically for the beet salad, and we both loved it. The space is open with plenty of seating, but it fills up during prime hours. If you want a table, make a reservation. Bar seating is first come, first serve. Overall Service: Every time I've been here, the host and bartenders have been incredible, whether it's helping me find a seat or just making me feel welcome, solo or with friends. read more

See all

Food was beyond amazing! I was just there a few weeks ago and my mom and I left thinking wow! Our waitress was amazing and food was too. We showed up without a reservation for 3 of us, they were able to accommodate us by the bar. Definitely will be back next time in town. read more

See all

Overrated. Food was just OK, not the experience we had been expecting. Wait service was less than stellar. Ambiance was OK, but menu was limited and food was overpriced. read more

The food was perfection, the ambience lovely, the service attentive. We celebrated my freshmen kiddo's birthday - and he had the best steak of his life. I had a few bites too - heaven. read more

Wonderful restaurant in Madison. Great food (variety of choices of appetizers and dinners) that was exceptionally well prepared. Superb service and wonderful atmosphere. Its a lively restaurant with some noise but I don't consider that a negative unless you are in a large group setting. If so there is no way everyone can hear what is being discussed but that is true virtually anywhere in an open restaurant setting. This is a great restaurant that I'll go back to for sure when I am in Madison. read more

This was my surprise favorite spot in Madison! We sat outside and had a great view of the Capitol building, and our server was so funny and attentive. I started with an espresso martini, which was perfectly made. I also ordered the chicken Parmesan made with vodka sauce, and it was absolutely delicious with a giant serving size. I would definitely stop back here if in the Madison area. read more

See all

Oh my lord the food here is incredible. I enjoy it so much. Coming here is such a treat! I love it as a date night or bringing out of towners. It's the perfect location close to the capital to showcase Madison's most iconic scene. The service also is really great. The pasta here is homemade and is delicious. I can't say a bad thing about the food. Also the Arancini is very unique and delicious. read more

See all

In town for a family event and happened upon this gem, amazing service and wildly outstanding food. read more

Cento - He recommended pasta entrée. - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Overall a good experience. We were seated at a table in the center of the restaurant, which was fine but made it hard to hear each other and our server (next time I would request a booth). Besides the noise, the ambiance was nice and modern. Our service was very average, not bad nor spectacular. The food overall was incredible. I ordered the carbonara which tasted excellent although the presentation could be better. My boyfriend ordered the chicken Parmesan with vodka sauce (which we later learned was a $5 up charge). We were disappointed in the sauce as it did not taste homemade, however, the chicken was phenomenal. We both agreed that chicken was the best we have had in a chicken parm. There were certainly good aspects and areas of improvement, but I would recommend. read more

Cento - Bucatini alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Amazing food. I sat at the bar and the staff was very friendly and funny. They gave great food recommendations. I had the shrimp pasta which was excellent. The arancini was good too. The ambiance was very nice. Perfect for date or any fun evening. read more

Cento - Canary - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I recently dined here and ordered the scallops with butternut squash purée. The dish was good, but I was hoping for a bit more flavor overall. The presentation was nice and the ingredients seemed fresh, but the seasoning felt a little subtle for my taste. I also enjoyed one of their signature drinks called Fiore Which was very tasty! The ambiance of the restaurant was really pleasant--great atmosphere for a night out or pre-show dinner. Our server was excellent and offered some helpful recommendations on what to order, which we really appreciated. One thing to keep in mind is that the restaurant is located across the street from the Overture Center, so parking can be a bit of a challenge, especially during events. Overall, it was a nice experience, mainly thanks to the atmosphere and great service. read more

Cento - Fiore - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great service and wonderful atmosphere! Absolutey the best food! Would recommend to everyone.... The pizza is so tasty!

This was our second time at Cento but it had been a while. We were quickly reminded of why we really liked it. They have a nice variety of Italian foods & a fun drink menu. Our waitress was great & checked in often. I loved the kale Cesar salad & they were nice in allowing us to share it & actually just brought it out on two plates for us which I appreciated. I loved my salmon meal & the flavors were perfect. My husband loved the meatballs his came with. Lastly, the dessert was delicious! The ambiance is always nice & very pretty. I also appreciate that there's a variety of seating options and that the booths are comfortable. I have a disability so sitting is difficult especially on uncomfortable chairs so I'm glad they accommodated my need for a booth. read more

See all

Our service was great! The 35.00 brunch deal is a steal for the quality and how much you get. I ordered the Challah French toast which was the perfect level of sweet! read more

Cento - Challah French Toast - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Not knowing what I wanted for dinner, I did Google pasta near me and this place popped up after quickly reviewing the menu. I knew I wanted to eat here because the food just looked amazing. The one thing I didn't like was that I was seated in a chair, the head arms and I am not a person of size at least I don't think I am and it would be very embarrassing. If a person of size we're just sitting in one of these chair chairs. I think they should rethink the chair so they would be more inclusive, which seems to be the theme in Madison, Wisconsin other than that the food was delicious. The iced tea was good and the ambience was great. I was able to get in and out in this nice dining establishment in a quick amount of time. read more

Cento - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Cento has to be one of the best restaurants Madison has to offer. Their bolognese is amazing and me and my partner went on our first date here. It will always be my go to when I'm finding a nicer place to dine with friends, family, or a date! read more

Walked in and asked how long wait was they said 30 minutes, got a text and waited on State st. Came back after 30 minutes and they said it would be another 30-45 minutes. They could have said that at the beginning. Disappointed, looks very upscale. Food looked good and was looking forward to trying it. Not going back. read more

Came here to celebrate my friends birthday and it was fantastic! If you like truffle I definitely recommend you get the linguine al tartufo.... the best pasta I've ever had. Ask for lucie she was a great server and super knowledgeable about the menu. We couldn't figure out what to order for drinks but she was incredibly patient and helped us pick. Ambiance was also fantastic saw a couple get engaged! Overall a 10/10 experience. read more

Cento - linguine al tartufo - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

We went in for the burger special and I was SO excited because the vecchio burger that I had in May was amazing. This time I was really disappointed as the bacon marmalade was super dry as well as the burger. It was a stark contrast from May. May was super juicy and very delicious!!! I really expected it to be as amazing as before and I left unsatisfied and disappointed. It seemed like this time forgot about it in the pan and burnt it. I debated sharing this review, but it was honestly so bad that I had to post. Hopefully it's better next time and for other guests...! Our service was great otherwise and my cocktail was delicious! I'll still be back at some point, just maybe not for the burger. read more

Cento - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is a great location for a celebration or special occasion! I recommend making reservations especially on weekends if you want to get in and seated in a booth or low table. The service was great and very kind. The restaurant was very classy and felt like a fine dinning experience. There was a great selection of food from burgers and pizza to pasta and seafood. My only critique is that both me and my partner felt our meals were a little underwhelming or missing something to elevate it from good to great. It may also be that we just chose poorly. They also charged us for a birthday dessert which is okay- however a heads up would've been appreciated prior to receiving the bill. There's also limited parking near by so expect to park on the street or parking garage and walking a block or two. read more

See all

Great service, fun vibe, great happy hour drink specials, and good food. We liked the bolognese the best. read more

Cento - Gnocchi al Tartufo - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Adam did a very nice job of pacing service as going to show.Are entrees were very good on a slammed night.

Just an average (or below average) attempts at Italian . Two glaring errors I will now mention: 1. Truly, the most eye popping dish should have been the seafood risotto. It came out and looked like black mush. The flavor was fair, but the dish was so ugly. Why would you make it all black? We thought maybe they used squid ink, but no, it was black risotto. Why? All the seafood had a black milky liquidy gray look to it. (See the attached picture.) 2. The bacon wrapped dates were not cooked correctly. So it was basically White fat around a date. Served in a tomato sauce. Really all wrong from start to finish. Embarrassing. read more

See all

Food 5/5 - Food was DELICIOUS! I really liked the tuna tartare - it was very flavorful! They should keep it on their menu year round. Fried calamari was yummy and the sauce was good with it. The spicy salumi pizza was sweet and spicy. The tiramisu had hazelnut gelato on top. YUMM Service 5/5 - The staff were quick and friendly! All of our food came out super quick. Ambiance 5/5 - Very nice interior. We were seated in a very big booth even though it was only 2 of us eating. I will definitely be back to try more food! :) read more

Cento - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Our waiter Robby was the best! He recommend a delicious wine - very impressed! He was very quick and polite. He never let our water glasses get empty! Food was very good I recommend the chicken Parm. I had the Tagliatelle, very good but I think I would get something else next time. We also got the Squash Agnolotti which was very tasty. The Tiramisu was THE BESTTTT and it came with hazelnut gelato on top! It felt very high end in there. Perfect for a date night spot! read more

Cento - Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I dined in on a weekend and had a late brunch, also called lunch. I went for a breakfast pizza. It was a nice twist on regular pizza. Toppings was all had good flavor. Having a poached egg on top was a good touch. The pizza was a lot to eat. I would say it would be enough for 2 people. I went at about 1 pm. I had a reservation, but at that time walk in would have been fine. Restaurant was spacious with tall cielings. Seats were properly spread with enough space in between. read more

Cento - Breakfast pizza - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great experience! Came here for brunch with my wife, and kids aged 20 and 15. It was my oldest birthdays!!! This place was great!! It was lively, bright and laid back. Had a city feel and the layout was very open. For brunch there are both lunch and breakfast items, but not a true appetizer menu. I had the Bucatini ala Carbonara and it was soooooo good. Very filling and good portion. My wife had the eggplant pizza and loved it. The crust was to die for. My 15 year old had a plain cheeseburger with mayo and breakfast potatoes. Burger was huge!! My oldest had the Shrimp Mafaldine---in vodka sauce, grana padano, breadcrumb, basil. She subbed chicken for shrimp. Wife and I had drinks. I had a delish Cabernet and my wife had the Bellini. Mine was great but the Bellini was perfect for the brunch. Refreshing! Kids had a soda and coffee. Service was outstanding. I think our server was Kaitlyn and she was awesome. They gave us a desert to share for my kids birthday and we had the cheesecake. It was a delicious cheesecake with blackberries and some type of a rice, frozen thing as well as a lemon sauce. It was really good. Go! Here! read more

Made a 5:45pm reservation before going to a 7pm show at the Orpheum. The host got us seated promptly. We ordered the arincini which was interesting. I didn't realize it would have a strong generic barbecue flavor. Aside from that it tasted good. We waited quite a bit for our entree to come out. It finally came out at 6:40 so we were very limited on time. We asked our waitress to put a dessert in right away as we were running late and she was able to do that for us. For the entree, I got the Mafalda which was cooked well but a little bland or underseasoned. I felt like a little more cheese would've helped or even just salt. For dessert we got the tiramisu which was so good, Overall, there was a lot of good but also things that could be improved. read more

See all

Underwhelming. Sea salt is used much too much. Disappointing. Food is not on par with the ambiance, the fixtures and the building. Would never survive in Chicago or New York. Staff was OK. Not great. Not rude. Just a blah dinner experience. read more

Some of the food was really salty especially the mushroom side dish and the mushroom pasta that I got. The service was great and the staff was very kind and accommodating to me even if I didn't have a reservation. read more

First time coming here and don't regret it. I was in town for the weekend and this happened to be the place we decided on for dinner. We walked in and luckily they were able to squeeze us in. I worked for sure make reservations in advance. They were able to let us have a table but be done by 730. Which by then it was only 545 so we had time. Seems to me like fancy dining. We ended up ordering the a couple of drinks. We ordered the Fiore and raspberry bramble. Both were very good. Entree wise, I ordered the porcini pappardelle and my cousin ordered the chicken Parmesan. Everything was so so delicious. We also ordered the rustic ciabatta bread with butter and olive oil. Ill have to come back to try others on the menu. read more

See all

What an outstanding restaurant and dining experience!!! The moment I walked in, and saw it was a full house, plus the alluring smell of fine Italian food....I knew I hit it big. I sat at the bar solo and was immediately greeted by the bartender Jack. He served up a killer cocktail (Manhattan) and was quick to offer dining options and his favorites. I went with the fungi and four cheese pizza. Outstanding didn't' cover it!!! Enough to take home for lunch the next day. While seated at the bar, I was engaged in conversation by one of the servers Josie. A delightful young college student from U of Wisconsin. She told me about the area, the university and things of interest in the area. She was attentive to her customers, but when she had a brief moment, she would reengage me in conversation. She and all of the other servers were like bees swarming all over the restaurant. Their staff are extremely hard working and diligent to their customers. This was my first time here while visiting for work assignment. I plan to make this my "must have" when revisiting. read more