Centro cafe is a great little hidden gem in Riverwest. The prices are a little higher than other venues in the area, but the food is well worth it. The flavors, the layers, the searing, the fresh ingredients, all fantastic. And with an exposed hot kitchen in the dining area, you can watch it all come together. The ambiance is nice, making it a great date spot. And the service is attentive without being too much. The craft cocktails and NA spritzes are fantastic, with unique and well balanced flavors. And the attached speakeasy (Bar Centro) makes for a perfect after dinner stop for another cocktail and live music 3 nights a week. read more

Centro Café - Soup and salad for a nice light tasty dinner - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Second time coming here and already one of my favorite spots in Milwaukee. Love that it's a smaller more intimate dining experience. Service is always amazing and the food is out of this world! Tried a non alcoholic drink last night which was delicious. Appetizer we had bruschetta which I could bathe in. My daughter tried the cacio e pepe and I had the butternut lasagna. Both were absolutely divine! Also had to get the tiramisu for dessert. Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

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I went here for a cozy girls' dinner during the below-0 stretch of weather, and it did not disappoint! I love the ambience of this restaurant - quaint, rustic, you really feel like you are transported to a little European cafe. We shared a bottle of italian red that was so juicy and delicious, I'm not one to finish a bottle at dinner but we had no problem with this one! We decided to share a few items and ordered the roasted brussel sprouts appetizer, Giardiniera penne pasta and Cacio e pepe fettucine pasta. WOW, the food was all so so good! The brussels were so flavorful, with pancetta, a balsamic reduction and parmesan. The Giardiniera pasta I think was my favorite...a perfectly spiced vodka sauce with italian sausage and in-house made pickled vegetables that were amazinggg. Finally, the Cacio e pepe had such a good truffle white sauce and the scallops were truly cooked to perfection. Our waitress was so sweet and helpful, we were choosing between 4 dishes and she helped narrow down and gave great recommendations. Such a solid Milwaukee spot that's been around for awhile - highly recommend! read more

A hidden gem in River West. Probably one of those places I love going if I had more time. Next door they have a waiting area which by the way have live band on some nights Food is always good never disappoints. Love the open kitchen concept Loved the home made pepperoni pizza the sauce was not overwhelming to much love the fact that it had a lot of cheese. The bolognese in every bite you can taste that braise beef You can never go wrong with share the Caesar read more

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I got a reservation booked the day before, for dinner with two friends who chose this restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by this charming restaurant with an upbeat vibe the rests somewhere between classic nostalgia and contemporary. The service was pleasant all the way around. Staff recommendations were spot on, but really I don't think you could go wrong with anything on their menu. The food came out in proper order, and everything was the right temperature. The appetizers and entrees were delicious, and most importantly flavorful! Even the desserts were good! The pistachio ice cream and the flourless chocolate cake are the two my table sampled. The prices are upscale--so get ready to empty your wallet. :-) I'd come here to celebrate a special occasion. read more

Oh man, don't even think about it twice and just go to this amazing place for a meal. I was delighted with my dinner. The meal was so enjoyable and beyond delicious, the service was not pushing us along to dine and enjoy our experience, and sitting by the window, a pure delight. I will to go back here soon and have yet another incredible experience. read more

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Celebrating Valentine's Day with a girls' night out at Centro Café was fabulous! I opted for the flavorful salsiccia pasta (sausage pasta), complemented perfectly by the spicy marinara sauce. While my friend and myself weren't thrilled with the bolognese due to the short rib being somewhat unflavorful and untraditional, our flourless chocolate cake was dense and delicious. Additonally, the waitstaff was quick, knowledgeable, and friendly. The lively atmosphere, complete with a live band, added to the fun vibe of the evening. While this is not the most authentic or my favorite Italian spot, this cozy restaurant in Riverwest offers some great food options and a lively ambiance. I can't wait to return and try their cocktails--they looked amazing! read more

Centro Café - Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Really amazing evening. Great vibes and great prices. Drinks were really nice and you could tell the restaurant cared about the experience. The bruschetta was a little bland but the rest of our meal was great!! read more

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My favorite Italian place in town. I love the cozy, romantic vibe here, and the open kitchen is so fun to watch. As soon as you walk into Centro you are practically assaulted by delicious smells, and it only gets better once you sit down. Everything here is good, and my Bolognese turned out great. The tiramisu at the end was probably the highlight of my night. read more

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Such a great night at Centro Cafe! Nothing but good things to say about the atmosphere, service, food, and drinks. There's not a lot open on Monday nights, but I'm sure glad we found this place as a spot to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday! We booked in a reservation for six people, and were sat in the upper area. All of the seating options at this restaurant are different, all really great. I liked being almost tucked away in the back. You can also opt to sit at the bar area that overlooks the chefs at work - pretty neat. My husband and I arrived first and decided to grab drinks while waiting on the rest of the group. Absolutely loved the Loren cocktail - think gin, basil, lime, simple syrup. Very tasty, and strong ;) Once the rest of the group arrived it was a no-brainer to order a few apps. Huge fan of the prosciutto wrapped asparagus and the baked criostini because who doesn't like the pesto, moz, tomato, balsamic combo. Delish. For my main, I went with the Cacio e Pepe with Scallops. Oh my goooodness. I don't often eat pasta so this was an absolute treat. Note: you must like truffle oil to enjoy this dish, because it's heavy on that flavor. Loved the cappers, mushrooms, and fettuccine all blended. The whole thing was delightful creamy, and the four large scallops on top were prepared to perfection. The rest of the table spoke highly of their dishes as well. Keep in mind, you'll spend a pretty penny on dinner here but you do get what you pay for. Also, shout out to our server; he was extremely attentive and friendly. Plus he so kindly helped us execute a mini surprise for mom: decedent dessert that came out on our family's beloved birthday plate (a long standing tradition), topped with candles. It was some sort of German chocolate cake. The dense, creamy, kind that literally melts in your mouth and keeps you wanting another bite. All in all, a wonderful evening at Centro. A real hidden gem I'd say. Be sure not to overlook this spot on your next date night! read more

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Have been wanting to come here for a while and it did not disappoint! The food was really good and we loved being able to watch the chefs! We had bread and olive oil, two pastas and tiramisu-- all of which were delicious! It is a cute little spot in river west and we can't wait to come back in summer for the garden! read more

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Wow! This place exceeded my expectations by a far! Very cozy, warm and inviting atmosphere. The aromas from the Kitchen had me feeling like home. An abundance of lasagnes, arugula salads and amazing baguette breads tasted fresh baked. I usually don't eat pastas out, but they both wowed me! The vegetable with cheesy ooey gooey goodness in every bite as well as the meats tasted like nonnas in Italy! Ate it all before realizing I didn't take pics. read more

Food and service were nothing but exceptional. I had the spaghetti & meatballs, my wife had the chicken parmesan. The drinks were really tasty too! Will definitely come back! read more

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Bored and hungry yesterday so I decided to try Milwaukee's Italian side. (I also was hiding from that 100 degrees) anyways I found this place on google and decided to head down there! It's a cute little cafe on the inside with a bar and some seating outside. I dined at the bar and the bartender was very fast and friendly. The lemon drop was 10/10! For dinner I had the Vodka Gnocchi and IT WAS AMAZING! The sauce was very flavorful, hearty, and hot! The gnocchi texture was perfect! I definitely will be back! read more

Centro Café - Vodka Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Everything about this restaurant was delightful. We ate our meal on the patio that felt like we were in an old Italian city. The bruschetta was refreshing and light. The service was fantastic and timely and our server answered all of our questions on the menu. Definitely will be returning. read more

Centro Café - Gnudi - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

We had a lovely dinner at Centro Cafe! The space is so cozy and sweet with string lights and tulips at each table. The pasta was absolutely incredible! I highly recommend the gnocchi with the vodka cream sauce. Though, we all got pastas and I don't think anyone had any left over, so you really can't go wrong! Everything was fresh and the flavors all complimented each other. If you're in the Milwaukee area and looking for a new spot for date night, this is it! read more

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I loved this place. I am generally vegan and they had so many vegan options. I had the autumnal pasta which was loaded with good veggies and dried cranberry which made it so good. The bruschetta and olive medley were to die for. And a great wine list! read more

Fabulous dinner drinks etc ! You won't go wrong if you decide to attend this establishment. I can't wait to attend this for a second time. The owner pat and his wife are very friendly and accommodating! read more

Centro Café - Dessert flourless chocolate cake! - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Absolutely delicious; authentic mouthwatering Italian cuisine I can't describe it any better

I went to Centro Cafe to enjoy a jazz show when the kitchen was closed, so I didn't have the opportunity to try the food. As far as ambiance and acoustics, it was very pleasant and comfortable. There was one glaring issue for me that really needs to be dealt with-the abrasive bartender. He made everyone in our party very uncomfortable as soon as we walked in the door by scolding us for not showing our tickets to anyone at the door. After he calmed down, I I got him that there was no one there. At this point he located the person and started yelling at him. We then ordered drinks which were all horrible and expensive. I attempted to speak with him about it but was ignored. Because of this bartender, I doubt I will return and that's stinks because everything else was good. read more

Quaint little patio tucked behind what you would never expect from the outside, Centro Cafe serves up a fairly authentic Italian experience. During this visit, I tried one of their specialty cocktails, a variation of an old fashioned, and was pleased with the outcome. It was a slight detour from what makes the drink without venturing too far off track so as to derail it. For mains, it was the Shrimp Scampi. The dish was a bit unremarkable to the palette, but reasonably proportioned with fairly plump shrimp. It needed something, even a bit more cream or butter (maybe?) to take it up just one more notch. A great atmosphere, and the patio is outstanding. read more

My husband and I used to visit Centro often when we lived in Riverwest 3 years ago. After moving to CA and not being able to visit again during the pandemic, we were finally able to fly back and try more food from Centro. I am happy to say everything is still just as delicious as it was in 2018 and I am so so very happy we decided to stop here for dinner on our trip back. We always started our orders with some garlic bread. You have a option to add cheese and marinara which we did and it was absolutely delicious! I picked the Cacio E Pepe as my entree and couldn't have been happier. The scallops were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing with the spaghetti. There wasn't a time we had dinner here and left without earthing their Tiramisu. It was almost just as we remembered but they used to have some crunchy chocolate on top. The cake tasted perfect without them and the perfect end to our meal. I will always make time to stop at Centro for dinner whenever I am in Milwaukee and if you're visiting the area and looking for a nice place to have dinner, this is definitely the one! read more

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Cute Italian date spot! This restaurant has an open kitchen concept. You can be seated where the chefs prepare the food. The open kitchen does a great job warming up the restaurant. I went here for a belated birthday dinner. I got the grilled calamari & scallops, duck bacon carbonara, and a nightly special risotto with saffron and prosciutto. Desserts change daily. The grilled calamari & scallops was the perfect starter. It was served with a fresh salad. My only complaint was that it came with only 2 small scallops. The carbonara tasted rich but it wasn't heavy. Lastly, the risotto had the perfect texture from the crisp prosciutto. If you're craving Italian, I highly recommend coming to Centro Cafe. read more

Centro Café - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Centro is one of our favorite restaurants in Milwaukee. It has a unique charm, is classy yet cozy, great service and a wonderful selection of food and drink. It's the perfect place for a date night, as there are many tables for two in the somewhat small space. However, they do also have a few group-sized tables too. And if you come at a busy time, there are lots of places to grab a drink nearby while you wait. (Company Brewing across the street, Foundation down a block and Centro is opening their own bar this year too.) And we never shy away from sitting at the counter if that's all that is available, because watching the chefs at work is mesmerizing and entertaining. Some dishes we love include: the flavorful giardiniera pasta, with which they are happy to accommodate a vegetarian diet by swapping out the sausage for the fake meatballs, their seasonal lasagna - often times it has butternut squash and is delicious, and, of course, their tiramisu. Their tiramisu is my favorite in town. It's a little out of the norm in that it comes in a cup rather than as a slice of cake. But this means it has extra of the incredible cream. They also have great cocktails, wine list, appetizers, and salads. My meat eating family members, really like the unique range of offerings, including their bison and prosciutto meatballs as well. With their wide selection of menu items, Centro is a great option for everyone. Though I think its fairly easy to find decent Italian, they set the bar at a new level. read more

New summer menu is out with some phenomenal items. I went with a group of friends from work and we got wine, the appetizer special, and all ordered pastas. This place was referred to us as a must try and we had no major complaints! They had a great wine list but all in Italian so we had to ask for recommendations. It was in order from sweetest to your more dry wine. All the pastas were great. I got the cacio e Pepe with scallops. Overall good flavor and scallops were cooked properly but lacked seasoning. I don't think scallops need a lot but I don't think any salt was added at all. It had a good garlicky flavor but I think next time I will try a more marinara based pasta which seems to be majority of the menu. No complaints from my coworkers on their dishes but not any overwhelming reviews either. Our Prosciutto based appetizer was definitely a table favorite so I would definitely suggest any special that they are running! read more

Centro Café - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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I got the gnocchi vodka which was meh- wouldn't get it again. I'd try the bolognese next time. The bruschetta was ok. Artichoke dip pretty good. My sister and dad got the scallop dishes and enjoyed them. read more

This place was great! We came for a date night and had a great time. We sat at the kitchen bar, which was fun to watch the chefs making meals and being able to talk with the kitchen staff and waiters a bit more to learn more about the culture there. Both of our pastas were absolutely amazing. I really do not think you could go wrong with anything you choose. read more

One of my best friends works in the kitchen here, which was the perfect excuse to come in here. It was my first time eating here and I really enjoyed the experience. Terri was our server and she was fabulous. The atmosphere is a cozy and romantic, yet the layout of the restaurant with the exposed bar/kitchen adds a casual/hip aspect as well. Food was tasty and the bread was endless. Never say no to the bread here. It is so addicting and so worth the calories. read more

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A friend of mine mentioned this place for dinner since they were in the city tins. I took to yelp to check this place out because I'd never heard of it. I do see where a lot of the reviews were coming from, stating that the tables are too close together but I didn't think it was a big deal. I say, this place is a hidden gem. Definitely go here! I can see how this place could feel up quickly. It's small and intimate. They have great deals on beers. I was excited to get the cashmere hammer nitro as I love nitro beers. I'm sure they rotate through seasonally. We shared the goat cheese dip wit crostinis for an app. Loved how creamy the goat cheese was. For dinner, I went with the verde risotto- spinach and mushroom risotto, soooo good! And incredibly filling! Easily had leftovers for lunch the next day. It appeared like one guy was doing all the cooking but maybe they had a second kitchen somewhere else? I will absolutely come back here. read more

Centro Café - Goat cheese dip - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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One of the best. You cannot go wrong here. I'll waste no more of your time reviewing a 'true' 5-star place. ...if I still worked for Michelin... read more

Alright, I'm torn. I've had great food, I've had okay food. I've had okay service and I've had bad service. Inconsistent but usually delicious if you order right. I find the Caesar salads to be disappointing but have genuinely loved everything else I've order. Their gnudi is out of this world. The creamy risotto is deliciously filling. I would sell my soul for the warm goat cheese appetizer. Service leaves a bit to be desired. Usually pretty slow but generally pleasant. read more

Centro Café - Warm Goat Cheese - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Centro Cafe is especially pleasing to the taste buds. This place is beyond great and I'm not sure why I haven't reviewed it sooner. We have been here more than a few times. Nestled into a quiet section of Center St. in Riverwest MKE is one gem of a restaurant. I enjoy many an evening sipping wine and drinking down cocktails out on the sidewalk patio area while enjoying some of the best Italian fare one could ever wish for. The menu has some seasonal dishes but Centro has some staples, they will and better never get rid of. Favs list: BAKED GOAT CHEESE - seasonal accompaniment, grilled bread & crackers Oh so delicious. Especially with the jam spread accompaniment. DUCK SAUSAGE FLATBREAD - Maple Leaf Farms duck sausage, fontina, roasted garlic alfredo & mushrooms, finished with arugula tossed in truffle oil Out of this world scrumptious GNUDI homemade ricotta dumplings, pancetta, wild & domesticated mushrooms, spinach & truffle oil I'm drooling right now! SALSICCIA - Scardina's Italian sausage, portabella mushrooms, spicy marinara, cream & fontina with penne It is spicy and spiced up correct! Not only is this place within walking distance but they serve up solid dishes. It is one of MKE's better restaurants and worth coming every time! read more

When people ask me about favorite places for Italian food, I seem to always forget Centro Café. It's not mainstream. It's just a super solid place in Riverwest. You wouldn't expect anything, but when you taste your food, you ask yourself why you don't go there more often. That's what happened to me Saturday. After hitting up some RW bars with my friend, she suggested we get dinner here. She already knew what she wanted without opening the menu. I had my eye on the special of the day, posted on the chalk board: shrimp, bay scallops, kale, tomato, shallots, red wine Alfredo sauce over linguine with fresh shredded parmesan ($20). My friend took over and ordered the Grilled Asparagus Wraps ($9.50) and a Caesar Salad ($6) for apps. Both were great, but the grilled asparagus wraps were amazing! The asparagus was perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, had a delicious charred flavor, and were wrapped in prosciutto. I will admit a few bites were saltier than I expected from the prosciutto, but a great dish overall! The Caesar salad was also on point with three very basic ingredients, romaine, parmesan, and croutons. My friend ordered the Arancia ($16.50) with chicken, olives, capers, artichokes, a tangy orange tomato sauce, and Parmesan over cavatappi pasta. I tried some and we both liked it, but she expected something else. Turned out she was thinking of the Pollo dish and ordered the wrong one. The Foundation Mai Tai strikes again! The special I ordered was awesome! The shrimp, scallops and pasta were all perfectly cooked and the red wine Alfredo sauce was delicious! My friend agreed I had the better entrée, and I let her continue to share it with me because I was already getting full. Our server was great and we had fun chatting with the elderly couple next to us, who had some serious energy and were very fun! I've dined at Centro Café a couple of times before, but it's been a couple of years. I enjoy dining at the counter and watching the cook work the ranges and skillets. The heavier lifting is done in the kitchen in back. The tables are close together a la Pasta Tree, but if you're fun and you sit next to fun people, it doesn't matter. I need to get back soon to try the bison and prosciutto meatballs and the duck breast risotto! Maybe I'll try to get there this weekend! read more

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This past summer, and again the last time I visited Centro (November 2014) they made awesome additions to their menu and if you haven't been, you really MUST go in right now. Go ahead. I'll wait. Okay, cool. You loved it, right?! I hope you tried their rotating housemade ravioli, which always proves fantastic. I'm still partial to the bolognese with vegan meatballs. They use a ton of local purveyors; you'll see Scardina's all over the place, woot! So, you gotta love that. I also love their baller beet salad. The small is a generous portion and perfectly balanced. I still love the cozy, intimacy of the place but they do offer take-out, which I'm about to take advantage of right quick. read more

Centro has an amazing combination of fantastic food, excellent ambiance and perfect service. Our server on Tuesday July 6 was 1 of the best in a long time. She did very well for our table of 4. We had: scallops, asparagus, arugala, giardiniera penne, rigatoni with sausage....all top notch even compared to Roma, Milano, Firenze, Venezia, Capri.... read more

Came down to Mlwke and went to this place for the first time. I got there around 8ish on 9/29/19. I was able to park right in ft of the establishment. The smell of food was in the air. I could not wait to get inside and check out the menu. This place was simply awesome. The 'vibe' of the staff was great. All the servers and workers were extremely friendly, kind and professional. You could tell all the people working there, were positive. The food menu has a variety of food. All the orders coming up around me looked absolutely awesome. I sat at the bar and there were 3 friends sitting together. All 3 had never been to this establishment. What they got looked really good and they all 3 gave me positive feedback on their food. I noticed on the menu that there are a lot of gluten free options and that is why those three people were there. I wasn't hungry really and was waiting on a friend. I just ordered a pepperoni pizza. It came out thin crust. That sauce had a great flavor. So that was a lame thing to order at such a great place for Italian food and or drinks. But it was a great experience. If I ever go back to visit Mlwke in a month or two I would for sure go back- but get something other that pizza and bring my appetite! read more

Centro Café - Thin crust pepperoni pizza. - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The food was over the top fantastic!! So many amazing flavors!! Loved sitting out in the patio area under the tea lights. Beautiful presentation read more

Centro Café - Caprese Salad, Rocket salad, Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pictures look great but the taste of the food is just ok. We arrived and were told there was a 25 minute wait, but that we could wait at their sister bar next door in the meantime. The bar next door was cute and the drinks were good (we tried a negroni and the nightingale house cocktail). We ordered the baked goat cheese appetizer which was good. The only thing I would've changed is that on the menu it said it came with a candied tomato jam, which it did, but there was such a tiny amount of it. It complemented the goat cheese well, so I just wish there had been more of it. Although it was good, I do not think it was straight up goat cheese. It tastes like they mixed goat cheese with cream cheese to make it creamier, which warrants a price drop! For dinner, we had three dishes: seafood risotto, bolognese, and carbonara. The seafood risotto was not well made risotto. It was over cooked and had some thin/watery sauce under the rice which is not how well made risotto should be. The bolognese was basically marinara with small bits of ground meat. It did not resemble the "ragu" that is typically associated with bolognese. The carbonara was probably the biggest disappointment. It seriously lacked flavor (probably due to the chef forgetting salt... he must have) and there was no salt on the table so I had to put a lot of Parmesan to make up for that. It was bland, although it looked nice. Moving onto dessert. We tried the "famous" tiramisu, the flourless chocolate cake, and the lemon gelato. The chocolate cake was good but nothing special, the tiramisu didn't taste like espresso at all, and the lemon gelato was actually unpleasant. It had an off putting taste, although I really do love lemons/lemon flavored things. All in all, it wasn't BAD or DISGUSTING, it was just so average. I wouldn't come again. Still on the search for some good pasta in Milwaukee, and I am not giving up my search!! read more

Centro Café - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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The outside of the building was quite unassuming but don't let that fool you! The food was amazing!!! I wanted something a little off menu and they made it happens with no questions. Service was impeccable. And the tiramisu was worth a trip back!!! So good. read more

Centro Café - the interior of the restaurant - Italian Near Me - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

This place was great! The building is super charming with an interesting decor. It was pretty busy, but we had awesome service. We really enjoyed our meals. The large cesear salad was enough for a meal, but we also had Scampi and Spaghetti & Meatballs for our main course. Reasonable prices and plenty of parking. read more