This restaurant is only open a few hours a day and would make a great date spot. You have two choices of ambiance - indoors which is dimmer and sensual, or the bright outdoors with patio seating right by the trees and creek! The food was amazing! From favorite to least: Live Mussels - 12/10 very zesty, and the broth was fresh and herby with shallots, thyme, garlic, parsley. We dipped the seafood from our entrees into the leftover broth for the acidity and flavor! Stuffed Portabello Mushroom - 10/10 there were so many ingredients in this dish it was almost comical but it all worked together very well! Portobello mushroom stuffed with ricotta(?), blue cheese, lump crab meat, topped with chives and lemon zest, with pesto and balsamic vinegar sauces LOL. So much going on but very good. Bacon was a bit salty in this ensemble though. Fettuccine a la Verona - 10/10 light and fettuccine is in a fresh seafood broth. Plump springy prawns with burrata and has a good ratio of vegetables (artichoke, spinach, lions mane mushroom) Wild Alaskan Salmon Penne - 9/10 very indulgent with bacon, pesto, caramelized onions and lions mane mushroom under melted cheese. Salmon was fresh but felt under-seasoned on its own. I loved the mushrooms but I didn't love the dry/hard melted cheese on top. Chicken Parmigiana - 8/10 tomato sauce is very fragrant. A bit bland otherwise. All entrees came with a soft crumbly bread that I only enjoyed with the mussels broth. Lovely server and restaurant! Charming location. Big portions, we took leftovers. read more

See all

Genuinely mind blown. Never have I been to a restaurant where the server looks at me and says 'sorry Italian is all butter we can't make any pasta dairy free maybe we can give you our vegan pasta.' We actually ended up leaving because the waitress was so unhelpful and just genuinely disinterested in giving options. By the time we got to the point of ordering entrees we were already frustrated because we had to get up and ask for a server and water glasses. For reference, the restaurant was empty. It is also wildly overpriced for a non fancy restaurant as is noted in other reviews. See picture for menu pricing read more

Fresco Cafe - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

We had an amazing experience here last night while visiting Bozeman. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable and did such a great job describing both the wine and food specials, which made choosing easy and exciting. The restaurant is cozy and intimate--perfect for a relaxing evening. The food was incredible and absolutely lived up to our expectations, and the wine special was just as impressive. We highly recommend stopping by if you're in Bozeman! read more

Fresco Cafe - Ravioli & special - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

If you're looking for a hidden little gem of Italian greatness with the ambience and the people to make you a happy camper while walking out on the street afterwards, plum folds of food this is your place to stop read more

Fresco Cafe - Don't remember, but I know it was awesome - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

I travel a lot for work, so I eat out all the time. I love salmon, so it's my go to dish typically. I've had salmon many times at different Italian restaurants with mixed results. I decided to try the salmon, and let me tell you, it was delicious. The menu said it was wild caught, and I believe it was. It had that deep red color that farmed salmon cant fake. It was served over penne pasta and the flavor was incredible. I try to stay lower carb, so I didn't eat all of the pasta, but it was just enough to really add delicious flavor to the dish. I took my order to go, so I can't speak to the service, but the gentleman who took my order was kind and thorough. He made sure I had the plastic ware that I needed. I will definitely be back when I'm back in Bozeman! read more

This is literally the cutest date spot! We went on a Tuesday night and were able to snag one of the creekside tables. It's the tiniest balcony table but was absolutely adorable and had a lovely view of the creek and trees surrounding! Make sure you keep an eye on all your silverware and other belongings! Our server was great and super helpful. We started with the herbed ricotta dip which was very good! It was hot and melty and paired really nicely with the green apple which I was surprised by. The focaccia-pita bread was also delish. We split the Caesar which was solid, nothing super special although I do love the addition of tomatoes! I had the carbonara for my entree and my friend got the chicken parm. We both really enjoyed our pasta! The chicken parm portion was huge and my friend took half home but I was able to polish off my meal. The side of focaccia was a little odd - it wasn't super traditional, spongy bread like focaccia normally is, but it was more crumbly and light. Not my fave side but as a whole it was a really delicious and filling meal! read more

See all

We got family style take out for our after wedding dinner. It was terrific! We enjoyed the chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken cavatappi. All were great. The spaghetti and meatballs were a big hit! I definitely recommend stopping and picking up a pan of deliciousness for your Airbnb near Yellowstone. Your family will enjoy it!! read more

Fresco Cafe - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

The food is excellent. Service good and friendly atmosphere. Definitely will go another time. read more

My favorite restaurant in Bozeman! The service is always incredible and so is the food. The environment is cozy with dim lighting that makes for a romantic night out. I never feel rushed here, though they're always busy. During the summer months they open the doors out to the creek and it's absolutely beautiful. Only thing I would say is they go a little crazy with the peas in the carbonara read more

The food was very good, but we got told that it was supposed to be cheap and there was no pricing on the menu, but the service was very good and everybody was nice there and the environment was very chill. Just very pricey. read more

The husband and I spent a lovely evening here and enjoyed our meal on the tiny balcony overlooking the stream covered in pretty tree boughs.

Great place for a romantic date night. It is a little spendy so maybe not the best place for just any dinner but the food was amazing and the staff was very friendly and checked in often. We got a flat bread appetizer that was to die for, portions were large so we had plenty of leftovers. read more

We went there for my wife's birthday on a recommendation from a good friend. She picked the perfect place!!! The service was great. I really liked the fact that there was an actual menu and not some QR code that you have to take a picture of to bring up the menu. They even have linen napkins!!! We ordered the Mediterranean flatbread to start. It was delicious. I ordered the chicken Parmesan with a side salad. Everything tasted great except for the chicken parm could have used a little more salt. My wife had the spicy pesto pasta which she throughly enjoyed. Nikki had the salmon and gobbled that up in no time. We split the cheesecake dessert and they even put a candle in it and didn't charge us either!!! I would definitely recommend this place. Don't forget to make a reservation. read more

See all

Great food and excellent service. Overall a great place to eat . Authentic Italian ambiance

we came here from nextdoor and the service was better than most of our bozeman visits so this place really did stand out! we only got dessert and drinks but have only good things to say about our experience. this place is so very cute and i will be letting my friends know to make a stop here soon! wow! read more

Still the best authentic Italian food in Bozeman, and the atmosphere is cozy in the winter, pleasant by the creek in the summer, and the service is always great. We also love the family style to go options. I've been a fan since the north 7th days read more

Terrific place food very good gets a little noisy but most places do. Service is great have some long tempers that know what they are doing!

I totally forgot to take pictures! The food here is always phenomenal! Service is great too! They always have a special, and it's always amazing. This time is was a lemon scallop over gnocchi. It was fabulous! I always get the mussels, but everything on the menu looks great. They also have the most amazing little breads... highly recommend! read more

Fresco Cafe - a view of the bar from the kitchen - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

See all

The service was great there was a small wait but we got a table at the bar quite fast. Very nice ambiance with both and indoor and outdoor seating option. The waiters we great and checked on us frequently. The food was good loved the herbed baguette the sauce that complimented was great. The shrimp pasta was great too the shrimp was cooked well. The chicken parm was pretty good but it was a little lacking im the flavour and consistency of the sauce. read more

See all

I love Fresco Cafe! It is so amazing. Always the best food and service. Each server I have had is amazing. I cannot say enough!

What an experience!! It was our second time dining here, and probably the best experience we have had at a restaurant in Bozeman. Our server Sierra really made the experience memorable, and had some fantastic pairing recommendations.... if you eat here ask for her!! Standout besides the service were the meatballs and the salmon special. read more

Back in Bozeman and enjoyed a return visit to the Fresco Cafe. Service is great, by-the-glass wines are always interesting, and the Pistachio Gelato is superb. On a nice evening the outside dining is a treat. Tables inside are always comfortable. Tonight the Gorgonzola chicken, Fettuccini and lamb special were all good - though seriously salty. Not sure if this is the new normal, or an off night. read more

best meal we have had in Bozeman! ambiance is perfect--a true hidden gem. Small restaurant with great service. Great pasta options and specials. salads with house made croutons were excellent. Nice wine selection and delicious desserts! Especially liked the tiramisu. and the pricing was very fair! read more

Best meal I've had since the pandemic began. Wonderful outdoor seating, but it is first come first served. Started with a Map IPA, nice lemony tones. They conjured up a nice little side salad - glad I didn't go for one of the appetizers as the entree was really filling. Main course was the lamb shank. So satisfying. Nice rich sauce, perfectly cooked veggies, and the lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender without being soggy. What a great little place. So pleasant to have the stream running by the patio area. Service was great - our waitress showed up when we needed a refill, but didn't bug us. read more

See all

I had the meatballs for an appetizer & the gorganzola chicken as my main meal. Both were Amazing!! The meatballs were delicious and the gorganzola chicken was beyond my expectations. The chicken was tender yet crispy and the gorganzola sauce was loaded with flavor!! I would definitely return on my next trip to Bozeman. read more

Fresco Cafe - Gorgonzola Chicken - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

Mentioned we were thinking about Italian food to a local sports pub bartender we visit whenever in town for a football game. A patron and the bartender both said at the same time "The Fresco Cafe." We were not disappointed. Service was exceptional, the ambience was soft and quiet and the food amazing. I had the carbonara and my wife the lasagna. Exceptional quality and great place to have a quite dinner by yourself, with a date your trying to impress or date night with your wife of 45 years. We will be back! read more

My husband and I have been to this restaurant in the past but this time we were a both pretty disappointed. Although the service was exceptional, the food was not. I ordered the ravioli and I could not differentiate the pasta from the cheese. It tasted like a mushy mess covered in sauce. My husband ordered the scallops that were mixed with potatoes and vegetables, seasoned too heavily with herbs, and hard to find. Both dishes were served like warm despite only three tables filled. This is a quiter restaurant in the Bozeman scene and we always liked the ambiance. But what happened Fresco to the food?? read more

Great venue & aesthetic as it seemed dimly lit and is located next to a creek that runs through downtown. Our waitress spilled wine trying to set the glass on a water cup because it was too dark in there. I said no when asked if it had spilled on me, but I honestly couldn't tell for the same reason. Luckily, she refilled the spilled wine. We ordered the hand rolled ravioli & chicken parmesan, but both were bland. We paid and left very disappointed. read more

A cozy intimate, authentic Italian corner in downtown Bozeman. I am torn between raving about Fresco and keeping my mouth shut so it doesn't get busy or change! Also-great food, wine, coffee and excellent service. read more

Good atmosphere with very friendly staffs. I ordered French onion soup and Seafood Alfredo. Food was decent nothing spectacular. Still not a bad place for a nice dinner. read more

Fresco Cafe - French onion soup - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

See all

Everything was amazing the service was fantastic our waitress gave excellent suggestions as she was knowledgeable about the wine and food options. The ambiance is very intimate and cozy. The art that lined the walls has a great story behind them. For a starter we had the Herbed Ricotta, it was very light and tasty (excuse the picture we forgot to get a shot before we dug in). For dinner we had the Wild Alaskan Salmon over Penne, easily the best pasta I've ever had. Can't say enough about this dish. Great food, wine, service, and atmosphere. read more

Fresco Cafe - Herbed Ricotta - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

See all

Amazing food, service and ambiance. My wife and I have tried most of the menu items and have never been disappointed. Small and intimate, one of our must stops when in town.. read more

Next to Blackbird, the best place in the area for Italian. What caused me to write this review, after having dined at Fresco several times over the years, was the review from Shawna W. on 5/5/22. In her 5/5/22 review, Shawna complained that her son, with a nut allergy, got very sick after eating meatballs at Fresco and only afterward, when she called the restaurant to ask what was in the meatballs, did she discover that they used cashew nuts. " Updated review 5/5/2022 We went here with Kay family because my son loves spaghetti and meatballs. He ordered the spaghetti and meatballs off the children's menu.  When the food came he only had a couple of bites and said his stomach was hurting. We decided to leave since he was hurting so much. When he got home he started projectile vomiting. I then called and found out they put cashews in their meatballs!!!!! Who puts tree nuts in meatballs on the kids menu and doesn't list the ingredients!!!!   I'm always very careful with my sons allergies but I didn't even think to ask if they put nuts in a meatball!!! Now my son is afraid to eat at any Italian restaurant again! Such poor management and menu planning!!! Scaring for my son!!!" The problem with the review is that she wrote the same basic thing about 3 years ago: "7/24/2019 Previous review The service and patio were nice but the food was not worth the calories. No one in our party finished our meal and didn't want to take any left overs home. The worse part was my son had an allergic reaction to the kid menu item spaghetti and meatballs. It did not occur to me to ask if there would be tree nuts in meatballs on a kids menu item. I know people sometimes put crazy things in meatballs but usually the kids menu would be pretty plan. My son is allergic to cashews which I guess they put in the meatballs. My son vomited all night and now has post traumatic stress when he drives by the restaurant." No idea why someone would post the same basic negative review twice, three years apart, but it appears to be what happened. read more

We are staying in Bozeman for a little get-away vacation and stumbled upon this GEM of a restaurant. The food was absolutely exquisite and we loved the ambience! The French onion soup was the best I've had. The lasagna and Alaskan salmon pesto penne dishes had us blown away! Our waitress Caroline was knowledgeable and attentive. Would recommend to anyone! read more

Fresco Cafe - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

The service was very nice and attentive enough. It was a nice place to sit. The food was profoundly average. The ravioli was gluey and smothered in sauce. There was very little subtlety in any of the food. It felt more like the Italian food you used to get in the '80s. At a third of the price, we would have felt like we had had a perfectly reasonable dinner. At its fine-dining price point, it seemed like a big miss. read more

Grab a friend and head to Café Fresco. With so many wonderful sandwiches and salads you'll have a hard time deciding what to have for lunch. All the little things make a big difference in your sandwich. Like cashews for texture in their homemade meatballs. The combination of flavors were amazing; house marinara, fresh mozzarella,caramelized onion, and spinach pesto, served hot on a toasted fresh baguette. Accompanied by a side Caesar salad, topped with anchovies, this was a magnificent lunch combination. The cozy atmosphere in downtown Bozeman along with excellent service complemented the meal. Go ahead, add Café Fresco to your list of "must try" lunch spots in downtown Bozeman. Salute! read more

Fresco Cafe - Meatball sandwich with Caesar salad and anchovies - Italian Near Me - Bozeman, Montana

Incredible food and incredible service from Michelle! It was our first time and she made the experience awesome! Can't wait to eat here again!! 11/10 recommend!! read more

Amazing! We came here on a whim and we are so glad we did! The team of women working here on the Monday night we went in were amazing! From the moment we called to make a reservation, the woman we spoke to was kind and inviting. And once we were there and got to experience the atmosphere and food we knew we had made the right decision. We sat at the bar, the peninsula actually as we were a party of three and the bartender was amazing! She was knowledgeable of the wine as well as the food and was more than willing to make accommodations. We told her we had a nut allergy in the party when we sat down and 90 minutes later when we went to order dessert she recalled it and pointed us in the direction of what we should try and what we should stay away from as there were nuts in many dishes. They were slammed on a Monday night and the staff took it all in stride. They were so willing to help one another, without even having to ask, they just stepped in when they saw another colleague needing a back up. It was an exceptional experience, all around! Now for the food: We had a garden salad and Caesar salad to start and both were great. The veggies were all fresh and the lettuce was crisp; nothing wilted nothing brown The. We had the chicken parm as a family style entree (dinner with a 9 yr old) it was delicious! The bechamel sauce v. Melted cheese made all the difference! I'm going to have to try this at home! For dessert we had the brownie and the tiramisu and bot were amazing! The tiramisu was fluffy, light and so flavorful! The brownie was so decadent and enormous! We brought 1/2 of it back with us to finish the next day! If you're in Bozeman, make it a point to have dinner here! Our only regret was we didn't come hungry so we could have tried several dishes rather than sharing one because everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing! read more

My girlfriend and I came from out of town and this place was recommended to us by 3 different people. Not only was this maybe the best Italian meals we've ever had, but maybe one of the best meals we've ever had period. read more

Not sure what happened to this place!? I'm a local and have eaten here before. Everything from the bread to the main meal was a " NO BUENO" Definitely scratched this one off me list! read more