The food is really good here. I try to order something new every time I go, but I always end up with a pasta. They have a good selection of wines and the place is nicely decorated. The vibes are always upscale and the lighting is perfect. The service is honestly hit or miss. I've had good experiences but also bad. The last time I went, I was at the bar and she wasn't the nicest but I just ate and left. I also wasn't properly greeted when coming inside, but other times the service has been great. Overall, I would definitely recommend. read more

Best Italian food around!! So good. I always get the half and half...my all time favorite!.. Kyle, our waiter , was amazing as always. read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Half and half! Manacotti and cannoli - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

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This was our first time at Genusa's and it did not disappoint! Although they were busy and parking was slim, we were able to be seated right away. Our server, Kyle, was great and was happy to answer any questions. The tables were well spread out, allowing for good conversation without having to talk too loud. The dim lighting gave the dinner a lovely romantic feel that we both enjoyed! Chloe- Lemon Drop Martini- 4/5 lovely lemon flavor Triple Tail- 5/5 this was wonderful. Soft and a good crust on the top. I chose garlic pasta as my side- lovely. Jackson- ________ Sirmon- 5/5 I don't remember the first part of the name but this tequila, blueberry, and lime drink had a great cohesive flavor that really let the tequila shine. Bolognese- 4/5 Very flavorful with plenty of cheese on top. I'm more of a fan of bolognese with tagliatelle but the rigatoni still gave it a nice firm bite and allowed sauce to cover the pasta inside and out! Overall- 5/5 we cannot wait to come again! read more

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Not really knowing what I was going to eat this particular evening. I finally decided on this place. Well I am most definitely glad I decided on this place. I ended up ordering the Alfredo with shrimp and seafood alfredo with gulf shrimp, lump crab meat onions in a spicy alfredo sauce. Whenever eating at a place I've never eaten before I generally expect it to be just okay. Well the food at this particular restaurant was definitely not just okay it was great. It came out nice and hot the pasta was perfectly cooked. The stars of this particular dish were most definitely the super tender butter poached shrimp and lump crab meat. I'm talking melt in your mouth delicious. Final conclusion on this place is great food and very good service. I would most definitely visit this place on a return work trip or visit to the city of Monroe. read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Shrimp and seafood alfredo with lump crab meat - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Steak is the best in North Louisiana! Don't let the Italian restaurant fool you their pasta and sauces are divine but the Ribeye is where it's at! Get the shrimp appetizer. Don't eat the whole day before going and don't make any plans after! The best restaurant in Monroe/West Monroe! read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Food was delicious. Service, however, not so much. It was good in the beginning but then while we were still eating, our server asked us if we wanted boxes. We said, "Yes, later." But then he tried to take our plates away. My mother had her spoon halfway up to her mouth and he tried to take her plate. A few minutes later, I noticed they were adjusting the table near ours to make space for a larger party, and it was obvious they were rushing us so they could use our table for it. I don't understand why they would do that when we were clearly still eating. There was a whole other table -unused- right next to us that they could have utilized instead. Completely incomprehensible as to why they would rush us. Was it because we were the only ones who weren't white? read more

Food was wonderful, from the appetizer to the main course . We had a great waitress who was very attentive and friendly. The restaurant it self was very clean and neat . I will return when I am back in town , great dining experience!! Recommend it !!! read more

Absolutely wonderful Italian restaurant that has been a mainstay in Monroe for as long as I can remember. Excellent food & service with an extensive wine list. read more

Notes: 1) only been once 2) went with my friend's family that knew the owners 3) actually a 3.5/5 Pros: 1) decent food 2) great service Cons: 1) pricey for the amount of food given 2) odd decor and not the best lighting I went to this restaurant in Monroe with a friend as this was his favorite childhood Italian place. The place was spacey and fancy looking in the dining side. However, there is a more casual side for the family and workers that are near the kitchen and bathrooms. This adds to the family-owned aspect of the restaurant, but it looks unprofessional to me, especially since it can be seen by all as they walk into the restaurant or as they walk to the restroom. I'm most likely biased against it as I am not used to the family-owned style being found in America. The service was great. All of our orders were taken quickly, and all of our drinks were served. The waiter served our food quickly, and we didn't have to wait long for it after we sat. We ordered a lot of food and also went near closing time; however, the staff was kind and courteous to us. We had our waters topped off for most of the night as well. I couldn't complain about the service. The food was pretty good. We had an assortment of different foods, but I tried the manicotti and the stuffed mushroom appetizer. The stuffed mushroom was 1-2 heads of mushroom that were cut and stuffed. The taste of the mushrooms was heavily sweet and was an interesting experience. The texture was not for everyone and the sweetness was unexpected. The manicottis were great. The pasta was fresh, and the cheese was flavorful. There was a lot of flavor in the tomato sauce and cheese combo. I liked it; however, there was not a big flair to the dish. It felt like homemade lasagna. I got 4 pieces on a plate that was a little bit bigger than the size of the mushroom appetizer plate. I think that the price of the plate (over $10) was a bit much for the 4 manicotti that I got. Overall, I think the experience was good. I will have to take 1 star from the restaurant for the combination of the pricing of the food and the odd decor of the restaurant. I will not take one star from the food but a half of a star from the taste of the food. I would give this place a 3.5/5 as it is a pretty decent restaurant in terms of food with good service. read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Manicotti - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

We have been going to Genusa's for 4o years and have never had anything less than an exceptional dining experience. Last night was our 44th wedding anniversary and we celebrated as usual at Genusa's. The food is unmatched and the service is the best. The atmosphere is perfect: upscale without being stuffy. The consistancy we have seen at this establishment is really impressive. This is our go to place for every special occasion. read more

The food, the service, and the atmosphere are absolutely amazing. I still can't believe this place is in Monroe La. This is absolutely the best fine dining around. Keep it up Genusa's! read more

I love the food & drinks here! The service is iffy for me.. I had 2 reservations in one weekend and both nights (different servers) we were left sitting there for about 15min literally waiting on a server to come over to greet us or anything. People would just walk past look at you crazy. Other than that I love the place. read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Cannelloni - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

The food was incredible and the waiter made sure my glass was never empty and the space was very quiet and I could have a good conversation without raising my voice. read more

Best Italian restaurant in north Louisiana, food atmosphere, and drinks are wonderful. Authentic traditional recipes along with some twist to classics read more

It has been several years since I have been to Genusa's. I heard that the restaurant had been updated so I was eager to visit. This restaurant has just been renovated so the ambience is great and the restaurant is clean and fresh. The staff was friendly, very professional, and the service was great. Everyone wore masks. My problem was the menu. Perhaps the pandemic has forced them to severely limit offerings. The online menu offers great variety, but that is not the actuality. From about 25 to about 12. I was disappointed that the they only offer three salads (Italian, Caesar, and wedge) and the only salad dressings were blue cheese, Caesar, and Italian. My plebeian taste wanted ranch or thousand islands. Since I wasn't getting a salad, I ordered a crab cake but it never showed up. I didn't like the other appetizer choices. That's okay, I need to watch my weight. There were two fish choices- salmon and fish blanc. Ordered the salmon with minimal seasoning but a takeout order had gotten the last of the salmon (We were eating at 5:30). Guess the restaurant keeps small amounts to be sure that there is little waste and to keep salmon fresh. Oh well. I prefer a lighter tomato basil sauce rather than the dark sweeter red sauce. This peculiarity threw four of the six pasta offerings out of the running. No chicken Alfredo either. Decided that the seafood pasta was another option, but as a wimpy eater, I don't mind seasoning but I don't like hot. It took a few minutes, but the server assured me that my request could be accommodated. Whew! I thought that I was going to have to hit Sonic on the way home. My dinner was very good. My companion had the manicotti and was underwhelmed. I don't think that I will be back. read more

Love going to this place whenever I am in Mornoe. The food and service have always been on point. I love to sit in the bar area for the vibe whenever I go. read more

We were fans years ago. But.... Three crab cakes (none bigger than an actual quarter -- no lie !) for $25 was ridiculous. We had to send our seafood Alfredo back bc it was not even room temperature. But the bread brought to our table was really delicious. Our waitress was borderline rude when some of us didn't order any alcoholic beverages (still on duty, in company vehicles). Just so disappointed. read more

The gold star for Italian in this area. It's a little fancy. It's not your corporate run restaurant. This is Italian food by Italian people. The lasagne is superb. read more

First time coming, had a ladies night. I had a caesar salad and seafood lasagna. I enjoyed the food and ambiance! read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Seafood lasagna - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

Ordered the lasagna. It was okay. Nothing spectacular though. I was with a party of six and we had two separate checks. We were split 4/2. On my check (party of 4) we had a $19 service charge. On the other check (party of 2), there was an $8 service charge. That is an extra $27 to eat. Yes it does say on the menu a service charge will be added to parties of six or more. But $27! Come on! All I can say I won't be back. Just walked out feeling used! Nope! Not again. read more

Genusa's never disappoints! We have been twice thus far since moving here and both times have been excellent. I get the chicken florentine and my boyfriend gets the seafood lasagna, always amazing food and great service. The cocktails are amazing too. Love this place! read more

Just got back from a lovely dinner at Genusa's. I will definitely repeat the experience. The food isn't the cheapest, but the quality equals the price. I'm a man who enjoys his manicotti, but I've never had it drenched in such sweet red sauce. It was absolutely delectable and cost a respectable $13 without a salad. We didn't even need to order an appetizer because the bread they provide is DELICIOUS. Granted, I never bought any wine while here, so I can't speak on their alcohol. Their atmosphere was wonderfully cozy and quiet, a great place for a one-on-one conversation. Our server was also very friendly and accommodating! I tend to guzzle water at restaurants and she never failed to promptly refill my glass. All in all, it was a wonderful experience! Please try this place out! read more

Genusa's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Monroe, Louisiana

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Always love this place. Mine and my wife's favorite Italian restaurant. Great service and atmosphere, and the main thing, every dish I've tried has been awesome. read more

Went there for our anniversary dinner. Food was good but cold. Got there at 6:20 for a 6:30 reservation. Seated quickly. Waited 30 minutes for bread. Didn't bring it till we said we were leaving. Order came 45 minutes later. Got our tables order mixed up with the table next to ours. The table next to us got their orders 10 minutes before we got ours even though we ordered 10 minutes before they did. Charged for a 9 oz filet but got 6 oz. Ambiance was nice. It's the kind of place I would take someone to see what their temperament is and how much patience they have. read more

When I visit Monroe, I love going to the garden district area and dining at Genusa's! The atmosphere is relaxing and the food is so good. I ordered the Seafood Pasta which is excellent. The staff are very friendly and accommodating! Give it a try you will enjoy! read more

Customer service gets a one star. The girl at the front acted like she didn't want to serve us. Food was mediocre. Not worth the money. Probably will not be back. read more

Wait staff was a little standoffish on entry. They asked if we had reservations and we said no they walked off and left us standing there. The place was not too busy but there was a definite lack of attentiveness. The food however was great! We all had different pasta dishes and they were all great. The garlic bread was tasty! Would recommend! read more

Excellent food as always. Served in a timely manner. Staff very knowledgeable and friendly. Not extremely expensive. In a decent part of town. read more

Horrible service! The hostess was super rude and acted like we were bothering her. Drinks took forever, i was also done with my steak before the wine arrived (after asking for it twice) Never got water refills, steak was over cooked and the cheesecake was dry and tasteless. Waiter acted like we were bothering him every time we asked for something. Probably won't go back. Food wasn't great, but the bad service ruined it! read more

Late post...It was raining really bad when I had gone here, parking lot turned into a lake. This place was recommended to me, so I thought I'd give it a try. The interior was weird, they had a mirror wall with very little lighting and I had a hard time reading the menu. I had some type of chicken pasta which was mediocre. Definitely not worth the price or the drive from west Monroe. 2 stars for the wine, surprisingly they have a great wine collection and that was the highlight of my dinner. read more

Cannelloni is absolutely to die for! So is the lasagna. In 40 years I have never had anything I didn't love! The food is amazing. I make a six hour road trip one way just to eat there! read more

Staff was amazing! Our food was out very quick and it was so delicious!! Genusa's has its own flavor I can not describe. We ordered chicken Alfredo and lasagna. They both made us say "wow" when we took a bite. I don't understand why this place is not a 4-5 star. A local recommended this place to us over Roma's. Amazing service, amazing food and amazing wine. read more

When my dad suggested we visit this restaurant while I was visiting them, he was right on. I heard Italian and I was all for it. The atmosphere is very cozy and quiet. It was a week night so I'm sure that's why it wasn't extremely busy. We sat in a very small area in the bar, but it looked like there was plenty more seating all around the building. I ordered the lasagna. My dad ordered the angel hair pasta with meatballs. Mom ordered the penne pasta with vodka sauce. If I had to rank them I would say, #1 Lasagna, #2 Penne w/Vodka Sauce, #3 Angel Hair Pasta. I love spaghetti but it just wasn't the best. The bread was great also! I would recommend this place to others and I would return. The only thing I would recommend this restaurant fix up is the bathroom I used (by the bar). read more

I wish I could give this place more stars. The location is lovely, and the atmosphere is beautiful. Wine list also lovely. Food....well...every single item has onions. Which I'm allergic to. And they can't ever make it without them for some reason. Only restaurant I've ever had that problem with. But the safe bites I've had of the food was very good. Also....went here for my Senior prom in 2000. :D I'll never forget that;) read more

I love this place. Great selection, great food and wine selection. I had a Caprese salad which was light and well seasoned with a vinaigrette dressing. My main course was a simple angel hair pasta with Italian sausage with onions and peppers in a red sauce. Delicious. You can't go wrong. Service was efficient, friendly, and smooth. read more

Went for a birthday. Atmosphere was dark and old and very dated. Looks like never remodeled needs a good cleaning and painting inside and out. No very inviting. Had brown paper on top of the white table cloths guess it saves the restaurant money on laundry service. Service was poor, waiters unorganized. Food wasn't all that. Used sweet Mariana along with sweet Italian sausage in this lasagna..not a savory dish by any means. Only went for the birthday. Geno's and olive garden are the best bets if you want some decent Italian. Sorry, it is what it is, and it's not here. read more

Best wine selection in monroe period. A family owned and operated jewel tucked away in north monroe

I dig the dark, quiet atmosphere, but the paper over the tablecloths reads as too "kid-friendly" for my taste. The food (we had linguine Alfredo with chicken and lasagna) was okay, but not great. Desserts (tiramisu and cheesecake) were better--the tiramisu is the only thing I would go back for. Honestly, for the price ($60 + tip for a dinner for two), it wasn't worth it. For $30, it would have been a decent meal, but for twice that? Not so much. read more

One of my all time favorite local places to eat! Never disappointed! Love the spaghetti and meatball or the cannelloni! The atmosphere is so wonderful also! read more

The best Italian restaurant in town hands down I've never had anything that I did not like excellent steaks read more