Definitely one of the better Italian restaurants I've been to in Madison. Although we showed up a little late to our reservation they were still able to sit us down only seconds after entering. The service was welcoming and helpful. When deciding what to drink, they had a wine specialist speak with us about what to order. Although we didn't end up ordering wine it's good to know they have a specialist to assist others in finding their palate. The food was flavorsome. I ordered the Fettuccini and Meatballs with a spicy tomato sauce, the meatballs are made in house and the spicy sauce wasn't overpowering. However the Butcher's Board seemed pretty limited, it offered several different charcuteries but only two different cheeses. I was expecting a little more for the price. Overall a great experience and I definitely recommend! read more

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We went for Sunday brunch and it was fabulous! Great service; great food; great cocktails. Highly recommend.

When three friends of mine from three different circles independently suggested Cento for dinner for my first night in Madison, I needed to see for myself if the street cred matched the in-person experience. It did. Upon arrival, ambiance and pleasant host set the tone for a great evening. Seated and settled near a bustling open kitchen, our great evening got underway with Sophia G. taking careful note of our allergy needs and got our order underway. Wine list on point. Two great choices caught my eye: Grillo and Barbera...off the beaten path and super fun. Bacon wrapped dates, spinach salad, and sourdough bread set the first course. Each dish delivered with fresh flavors, presentation, and quantity. Entrees selected were scallops w pancetta, broccolini, and polenta and an Italian sausage pizza on GF friendly crust. Great dishes. Desserts were tiramisu and pannacotta. Great takes on classic recipes. A special point to be made was Sophia G's exceptional service. Prompt, professional, and friendly cues...all added to our great Cento's experience. Overall, I was impressed by Cento and I would return again to see what's next on the menu. I found Cento to be great Italian and that says a lot when you're talking about Italian outside of Chicago. Until next time...tk read more

Cento - Our spinach salad and bacon wrapped dates. - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Went to Cento tonight. Good but not dream about food. Well prepared, but we had nothing I feel obsessed with returning for.... The service was excellent. My favorite item we tried was the Burrata with figs. read more

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I came here twice for the boozy brunch, which is a great deal. I was pleased to see the that there are business cards for each of the head staff members, including the chef, at the front desk. The atmosphere is classy and open. There was a meat slicer for cured meats in plain view of my table. Unfortunately, beneath the table was a collection of dust-covered decanters on a dust-covered shelf. Our waiter was very nice, competent, and accommodating. The cocktails were delicious. I ordered the steak and eggs. The steak is listed on the menu as a 'prime new york strip". It was a very measly and paper-thin cut. The first time I ordered it, it was not sliced, but the second time I ordered it, it was sliced.. A bit odd. I would have been very disappointed had a paid $30 for the steak an eggs rather than had it as a part of the brunch deal. Eggs were cooked correctly. Veggies were well seasoned. It bothered me how long the plates sat under the heat lamps before servers took them out. My cousin's side of greens were hot and unpleasant. My friends ordered the salami hash and the waygu pastrami sandwich, both of which were tasty. The brunch menu comes with a free cannoli. It was a nice sentiment, but not a very good cannoli. Overall, I'd go back to try the pizza or pasta, but I am not in a mad rush to return. read more

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Typically, I go with the Tagliatelle because it is by far my favorite dish here, but wanted to try some new stuff! For Appetizers, we started with the Grilled Octopus and Mussels. I prefer my octopus a little more crisp and less cooked, but it still tasted great and the mix of chickpea below offered a nice crunch to offset the softness of the octopus. The mussels were FANTASTIC. The sauce was great, and dipping the bread in there tasted amazing. Will definitely get this again. The Campelle was light and fresh while the lobster scampi was a little heavy on the salt. However, the peas and lemon helped balance the profile. Cento is great, the pasta is definitely fresh and the decor is modern and upscale. They have a great cocktail and wine menu, and ambience. Always a pleaser experience and some of the best Italian in Madison! read more

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Another excellent experience at Cento. Ordered the gnocchi and it was out of this world. Great flavor. Very filling and nice presentation. Husband ordered the duck and he loved it. As an appetizer we ordered the bacon wrapped dates...these were the best! I absolutely loved them and would recommend to anyone coming to get these. You won't be disappointed. Cocktails are always good. Everyone loves a good craft cocktail. read more

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Cento has become one of my favorite restaurants in the city. I ordered the Tagliatelle (ragù alla bolognese, ricotta, parmesan), side salad and to drink I had Aperol Spritz (Aperol, seltzer, prosecco. Served over ice with an orange peel). I have officially given up cheese but I dream about the Tagliatelle quite often. The salad was fresh and the Aperol Srotiz was very refreshing. The service was great! The only thing you really have to worry about is parking but luckly I found close parking. I beleive they have one of the best happy hours in the city. read more

Atmosphere (5/5): It's really nice. In particular, as the sun goes down, the lightings inside the building made the moods in the restaurant more romantic. Service (4/5): There were servers in charge of certain tables. It was a little hard to say they were very professional, however, the customer service was very friendly. Food (4.5/5): Overall, all food was good, especially the pasta was really impressive. However, I felt that the seasoning of the octopus was a little bland compared to the very soft texture, and for dessert, I recommend tiramisu rather than celebration cake. Price: $55 per person (including tips) read more

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My friend and I wanted to try some Italian and Cento had been on my radar for sometime so it worked out that I set up a reservation for a little after seven. Luckily I found some street parking as there was a Wicked showing across the street at the overture center. We arrived a little early and had to wait a minute to be seated as there was a good crowd and the empty tables didn't stay that way for long. The interior was large and spacious but still held a good level of intimacy and classical style. After looking over the drinks menu our waitress took our order and we made our main choices. We started with the charcuterie board and both ended up with pasta. The drinks were tasteful and did their job. The charcuterie was about the same. Each item was great but between the three choices of meat, the two cheeses, the bread and the honey it seemed a little underwhelming.. maybe it was just the plating but I feel I've had better elsewhere. The bucatini alla carbonara and the shrimp mafaldine made up for any slight. I think we both scraped the plates clean. Probably the best Italian main course I've had in Madison and such easy choices. Will recommend to anyone for the selection, service, taste, and ambiance. read more

Went here for a just dessert a couple weeks ago and it was phenomenal. I ordered a cocktail that was complicated and delicious and my partner and I shared a dessert. It was a deconstructed nettle cake that was herbal, nutty and just a bit sweet. Presentation alone was Great British Bake-off worthy. It was so cool! I definitely recommend for a special treat night. The ambiance is also always so classy in there. Our server was kind and attentive as well. read more

Cento - A nettle cake with strawberries, merengue that was so different and so good! - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Food was very delicious and a fun atmosphere but there was a large group sitting behind us and made it hard to communicate.

Delicious food! Great atmosphere. Had a little wait time to order food at the bar however it was a night when a show was playing across the street. Amazing happy hour! read more

Cento - Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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YUM!!! So excited to visit again soon! Started with the Grand Marnier Spritz & Glass of Chianti off of the Happy Hour Menu and enjoyed the Calamari and Burrata appetizers. Finished off with one of the best Espresso Martinis I've ever had. Nathan behind the bar was a pleasure and we can't wait to go back! read more

Cento - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This was my first time there and it won't be my last! My friend and I went before going to a show, and seriously some of the best food! So thankful she got us a reservation a few week in advance! We decided to go for the theater menu, all members at the table have to agree to do it but honestly it was so worth it! We started with some amazing cocktails and the sourdough bread (which is a must)! The cocktails were part of the happy hour special, and our server even came around to offer to put in another round before happy hour ended! For dinner, the theater menu is a small menu but it is worth it! My salad course I got the spinach salad, my main dish with the potato gnocchi, and I finished with tiramisu! My plates were all empty by the end of the meal, and I was the perfect amount of full! I honestly can't wait to go back, and bring my husband because I know he will love it!! read more

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I was so hungry and the food was so good, I forgot to snap a picture until the dessert was gone haha. I had the seafood scampi and it was soooooo good, as were the drinks. Our waiter was great and friendly. Recommend a reservation, the place was PACKED. But understandable with how fun the ambiance was and how good the food was. We went to celebrate a friend getting engaged and got this massive dessert board with gelato that was delish read more

Cento - Gelato and brownies - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I've been to Cento twice, and both times had a good experience. The ambiance is beautiful and service is great. The food is very good but there have been some misses for me. The flavors of some dishes are very complex, sometimes a little too complex where it feels like they're using too many flavors and elements that just don't end up going well together. I would definitely like to come back and try some of their classic dishes such as the bolognese or carbonara. read more

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Came here in Valentines Day and had their prefix menu. Probably some of the best food I've had in Madison. Service was great on such a busy night and the atmosphere was nice and formal. Will definitely come back here again. I wish I had come here sooner read more

Cento - Gnocchi alla vodka and squash ravioli - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The Kale Caesar is perfection! I had to go back and have it twice in one weekend!The margherita pizza is also fabulous! We tried the calamari- amazing and the bacon wrapped dates - interesting preparation. Finally we had the baked gnocchi - wow! What a great experience at Cento! New favorite on visits to UW Madison! Will go again and again read more

Such an amazing experience at this gem in downtown Madison. Food, service, ambience, you name it, all superb. We didn't have a reservation so we sat at the tables in the bar area. They are first come first serve and are pretty limited so keep that in mind if you make a last minute decision like we did! Started off the with calamari and roman fried artichokes. The calamari was very thin and light which was perfect! The giardiniera was so fresh and is something I've never had with calamari before. That and the aioli complemented the dish very well. The fried roman artichokes were amazing. The pickles shallots made this dish so delicious. Entrees we're the potato gnocchi and tagliatelle. Both were phenomenal! I decided to go with a more traditional sauce for the gnocchi and I'm so glad I did because it's the best vodka sauce I've EVER had. This was a very large portion but despite being potato gnocchi, doesn't leave you with that 'overly-full' feeling. The tagliatelle was also very tasty and the pasty was obviously freshly made. Overall this was an excellent experience and the food was exceptional. Certainly will be returning as I found my new favorite Italian restaurant in Madison! read more

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Excellent haply hour! Excellent service, really pretty interior. Cocktails were good and the pizza has some good color to it. read more

Cento - Sausage Pizza with broccoli rabe - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Went to Cento with my girlfriend for a week night dinner. When we first approached the venue, I was impressed by how elegant and beautiful the restaurant was. The decor from the chandeliers to the light blue dress shirts of the employees made the experience feel very luxurious. The booth seats were very deep and comfortable. We decided to get the sourdough bread and it was very chewy and fluffy. The butter and extra virgin olive oil that was included really helped the flavor. I got the pan seared duck that came with Brussel sprouts. The duck was very juicy and perfected seared. It came with a nice crust that paired with the savory sauce that was drizzled below it. Overall, solid venue to bring a date. Would highly recommend reserving a table as this place gets booked super quickly!! read more

Cento - Pan-Seared Duck - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This is one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at. The flavor of the food was amazing! The service was excellent.

I'd never been to Cento until a few of my culinary friends recommended it- so off we went for my birthday in January. The atmosphere is beautiful, and the open kitchen lends such a delicate dance to the restaurant. Our server was kind, helpful, and gave us drinks right away. He did seem occupied, as it was a full dining room at the time. I ordered some wine to go with my short rib pasta. I absolutely loved the flavor; however, the pasta wasn't salted when it was boiled, nor was the sauce and beef. It would've been perfect with some salt and pepper. For dessert, Cento was very generous and gave me a free dessert, which I ordered as a tiramisu. This was so rich and indulgent and full of coffee. Loved every bite. I'd come back again to try something different for second course. read more

Cento - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Melissa was our server. She was so attentive. Our meal was prepared very well. The steak my husband and son ordered was perfect. My scallops were fine. They were a little salty but the bean purée made up for that. It was a wonderful dessert time because of the meazzaluna, afogato and the divine chocolate pannacotta. read more

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We purposely picked a weeknight during the holidays when there was nothing going on at the Overture Center next door. Easier to get a reservation and to park. We arrived to an almost full restaurant and were escorted to a nice booth along the windows. We had to ask them to turn down the AC since it was so cold (it was actually on in mid-Dec!). They did so promptly. We each started with a glass of wine- seemed like a small pour for the price but... I ordered the calamari which was very good especially with the spicy aioli. My wife got the beet salad that she declared was the best she ever had and that is saying something since she orders it everywhere. It was almost all beets and not just greens with a few beets. For my main I ordered the chicken parmigiana which I had been craving - it was very good. Unlike some places it was not swimming in red sauce - there was just enough. My wife ordered the porcini pappardelle which is made with short rib - she thought it was very tasty. The service was very good. The meal was a success. We will be back. read more

Delicious meal and great service. We had a wonderful time. The restaurant is modern and airy. Lovely evening out. read more

I came for the Linguini alla Vongole. I would definitely return. We had early evening reservations, so it was quiet. I ordered the linguini alla vongole, my favorite go-to Italian dish. It had an amazing flavor profile, the clams were so fresh and the noodles were had a creamy texture. I would hands down eat this dish again; everyone should. My husband got the Porcini Pappardelle and loved it. He got a gelato dessert with espresso poured over it and said there were so many strong flavors. He enjoyed it. The server could've been a little more welcoming, but other than that, I would definitely return and recommend to others. Our bill was about $130, four drinks, an appetizer, two entrees and dessert; pretty great value. read more

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Hells Yes Great food Very pleasant and efficient service We had a great time and would love to go back read more

The boozy brunch is so worth it!!! Yum! For $35 you get two cocktails, pastries, an entree, and bottomless coffee or tea. We enjoyed the black coffee manhattan, a bloody mary, and my fave, the lemon capri. The bloody mary really stood out to me, it's tangy, savory, and spicy with a kick. It might be the best bloody in Madison! Pastries are served with a delicious blueberry jam. For entrees, we have tried the seasonal omelette, salami hash, crab cake benedict, and breakfast burger. The burger was a hit with my fiancé, who loves a sandwich with a good runny egg. Everything was perfect. Whether your feeling casual or a little bit fancy, Cento is a must when it comes to brunch. Bon appétit! read more

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Cento makes fresh pasta daily and they have a boozy brunch with consists of coffee, pastry's, an entree, and two cocktails for only $30-40. During the out break of COVID19 cento was a place that really stepped up. We ordered take numerous times because they had a special $40 meal deal which was bread, salad, and two entrées of pizza or pasta. There was plenty of left overs and although it was as good as it was fresh in the restaurant it still made a perfect meal and date night at home. read more

Cento - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I'll take some of the blame for being too chicken to send it back, but WTF - the food was horrendous. Along with a salad we ordered an octopus based appetizer & a lamb based pasta dish - I couldn't tell the difference - both were oily and insanely over seasoned with what seemed to essentially be taco seasoning. Maybe I should have read better but chorizo was a disgusting pairing for octopus & when the entree proved to be an oily repeat of that flavor we left it un touched. The beet salad was the only dish I was not repulsed by, but even there the frigging Great Dane with its own lackluster menu has a better beet salad. Friends will drag me back to this Food Fight flop again, pizza is the only dish I'll risk next time. read more

we came on a thurs night for my friend's farewell dinner! tbh the food wasn't that great at the price point. if it was a bit cheaper i would be more willing to come back. we got the burrata and fig to share, which was good but i was disappointed that it didn't come with bread to spread over. i got the mafalda as my entree which was really lacking in the sauce and the ratio of pasta to asparagus/short rib was kinda off. the chicken parm is a staple, tastes like any other chicken parm. the burger was alright, didn't really blow my mind. i thought the pesto gnocchi was the best - the gnocchi was wide and dense and the cheese in the middle was a great touch. initially we thought the portion size of the gnocchi was lacking but it ended up being the perfect amount. the service was fine, our server seemed kinda irritated with us when we first got there though? the ambiance inside feels classier and more upscale read more

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Server: Julia. Fantastic. Attentive, great recommendations, Water glasses always filled w/o overbearing, conscious of Theater times, good with GF options, amiable. Ambiance: Great. And across from the 7 theaters at the Overture Center! Food: Grilled Octopus; unbelievably great. Wish it were an entree instead of starter. Duck; Really good (usually not a fan, because of fatty nature, but decided to be adventurous) - this was fantastic and even the fat ridge was good. Tagliatelle (bolonagse); two diners loved it, and reported a little more mild than they've had at other restaurants, pasta perfectly prepared. Drink: Most fun I've had in ages. Pepper Plane - flavorful and tasty. Even had a dehydrated Jalapeno floating! Fiore: My type of drink! Sweet and flavorful. read more

Cento - Tagliatelle - Italian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Kitchen needs to step it up. We have always enjoyed eating at Cento -- and last night the appetizers and cocktails were great -- and the atmosphere always works well for an enjoyable evening. BUT we had several problems last night. We asked for the server to spread out our meal into three separate courses, and yet the second and third course came out at the same time. Our pasta was cold, unfortunately, and the side of broccolini was underdone and very tough. The woman running the front of the house was nice enough to give us a small gift certificate for our next meal -- but more importantly, they need to work with the kitchen to produce the kind of quality and service we used to expect from them. read more

Love Cento! My daughter, then fiancé had dinner there a few months ago to sample more of the menu as they booked their rehearsal dinner there. Our dinner was delicious, great service. Love the vibe of the place. The rehearsal dinner just happened last Friday and was absolutely perfect. Private room, delicious hors doevres, great cocktails (open bar all night), family style meals was delicious! Two pastas (bolognese and carbonara), beef tips, chicken parm, kale Caesar - all great. OutstandingTiramisu for dessert accompanied by Limoncello! A wonderful experience had by all the 35 attendees!!! Cento's is a go to restaurant in Madison! read more

When we visit Madison twice a year we always have dinner here. We arrived at 5:25 for 5:30 reservations yesterday, 9/4, noting we were celebrating a birthday. The hostess Ms A walked us over to a small 2 top table, in the main dining room that was totally EMPTY! This was very off-putting and we requested one of the booths by the window that was already set up for 2 diners. After a few minutes, she sat us at one of those tables. Our server Calvin was great and was quite helpful in helping us choose the wine and food. We enjoyed our entrees though I think it would be nice if one small piece of bread accompanied the dish. Unfortunately, there was no mention of the birthday (which was especially significant this year as my wife is presently under care for breast cancer). This was disappointing and at this point we will be rethinking our Italian restaurant choice. read more

Cento has a great atmosphere, very open inside with high ceilings and is a great place for date night and anniversaries. The atmosphere is probably the best part. And they treat you well for anniversaries, etc. The service has always been excellent here. Our most recent experience was our best, around a month ago. I had the Carbonara pasta. It was good, but there are better places to get pasta around town. And the portion size here is not that big. My partner had I believe the Tagliatelle. It was kind of bland, but not bad. You will definitely want to get an appetizer and/or dessert with your meal given the portion size. Unless you don't eat much. The bacon wrapped dates are delicious, and the sauce they come in is soo good. Get some bread with the dates so you can dip the bread in the sauce when you finish the dates. We had a dessert, and I'm not sure what it was called anymore but it was really good. Maybe the Mezza Luna. I included a picture. It was a really tasty pastry and had Nutella in it. The appetizer and dessert were the food highlights. I'd recommend ordering pasta, in the past I have tried the pizza and it just wasn't good. Though the pizza I had is no longer on the menu... read more

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Cento is a sold choice for dinner or brunch. For dinner I had the carpaccio and gnocchi and both were good. For brunch, you can't go wrong with the brunch special "Boozy Brunch" where you pay a flat fee of a reasonable $25 and choose your entree and two beverages and unlimited tea. I'm going back for it sometime soon! The crab cake Benedict was very underwhelming and forgettable, though. I won't get that again. Just meh. Nice atmosphere, classy place, friendly staff - very little criticism to give for this place! read more

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I made a reservation at Cento on Wednesday 12/14 for 8pm. When my friend and I arrived slightly late at 8:07pm, the hostess informed us that our table was not yet ready so we waited until around 8:11pm to be seated. The chairs at our table were extremely comfortable, and we were seated right in the middle of the restaurant so we were able to take in the entireity of its beautiful atmosphere. To start, we ordered the sourdough bread with butter and oil which was not complimentary but incredibly tasty and warm. My friend and I both ordered the Rigatoni alla Carbonara and had mixed reviews on the dish. I thought the dish was excellent, the pancetta was delicious and perfectly salty, the egg complimented the rigatoni and pancetta very well, and the parmesean and spices topped everything off nicely. However, my friend believed the portion was incredibly small so we ended up ordering another round of sourdough bread and dessert. For dessert we ordered the Affogato which had lots more espresso than gelato. The next time I visit Cento I will order a different dessert, and I would like to try a different pasta dish on their menu although I did really like the Ragatoni alla Carbonara. I also appreciated that our waitress was accomodating and understood we wanted to relax and enjoy our time at the restaurant by taking a while to eat and chat which seemed like what most of the other tables were doing as well. Overall, I would definitely reccomend this restaurant and I will be going back, however, if you are younger or currently in college beware that some of the staff is not the friendliest to younger diners, this was the biggest downside to my experience which is why I rated 4/5 stars. read more

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