Tried another one of Madison's finest @lallegrianj and it was awesome. Was super shocked it was dead inside with the snowbirds out of town but the food quality and service were great and I loved my pasta dish and salad - homemade quality with the most pure and delicious ingredients Don't forget to order the fried ravioli side as a starter - 10/10 pregnant gal approved read more

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L'Allegria is simply a great restaurant, it's Fine dining. You will experience Fine Italian Dining!! L'Allegria is in downtime of Madison. Nice neighborhood! We took time to walk the whole downtown. Very beautiful neighborhood. From outside, it may look like a small place, but when you enter you will be amazed. We had an opportunity to meet the owners (husband and wife), nice Italian couple. They were very welcoming and they love to talk to their customers about Italy and Italian food. We, along with our friends ordered Burrata, Caprese, Eggplant Rollatini, Fusilli con melanzane aromatizzate ai capperi, Frutto di granseola finta, Margherita Pizza, recommended drinks by servers (Merlot and Pinot Grigio), Tiramisu, Cappuccino, etc. Food quality and taste was excellent. They have a very nice bar and a big wine list to select. Prices may be high, but L'Allegria is worth, each penny! It is Fine dining!! I recommend this restaurant and will go back when we visit North New Jersey. Dress appropriately. It is a classy place! read more

I was in the middle of a business meeting, so didn't pay too much attention to the food except for some amazing appetizers and a reasonably priced wine list. They layout is wonderful, with a handful of private nooks. The sound level was low. I could here everyone around a table of eight, which is rare. I'll be back with my wife for a romantic dinner. read more

We dined here twice already with our picky teenage kids. The food was amazing both times, the service great.

My buddy brought me here for lunch, during my lunch hour. It was really nice inside, no one else was there eating. Didn't discourage me... my buddy said the place was really good. I only took away a star because we did tell them a few times I was on my lunch hour and everything kind of took a long time. WHICH I get when making fresh but even my cocktail took a very long time. And for no one else being there, I was hoping for a faster service Besides that! The bread was very yummy! We got an assortment. I had to stop myself because I did not want to get full. My friend ordered us a type of charcuterie board which was delicious . My friend ordered the bolognese and I got the chicken marsala. So saveoy and delicious. I never had polenta before and that was actually really good. I could have kept eating that haha. Everything was superb . The pricing was a but much for MY pocket but was glad to be treated out since they are down the street :-) Oh and the tiramisu was fantastic as well!!! Which we were able to get to go haha read more

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I was really disappointed, although the atmosphere was pleasant and the menu looked interesting it was really below average. There were several problems with our food and the waiter was unable to correct them. We had the displeasure of meeting one of the owners who really didn't seem interested or receptive to addressing the problems. For the price of the meal, we were surprised it wasn't a more customer centric experience, unfortunately this one is off our list permanently. read more

Food was very good, service friendly and timely, ambiance excellent, a bit on the expensive side but an overall satisfying experience.

I was a little apprehensive about coming to L'Allegria for my a birthday dinner with my family after reading some of the reviews. It is unfortunate that others didn't have a good experience here and I am hoping this review will help those who may be skeptical. The restaurant is quite and classy. If you're looking for that kind of experience, give this place a try! The service we had that night was five stars. Our waitress's name was Susan. She was FANTASTIC. I hope if any of you do go here, she can attend to your table. Absolutely excellent. The menu has so many options that sound delicious I really had a difficult time deciding what to get. Everything sounded so delicious. For appetizers we ordered the burrata, octopus special, and warm fig app. I would order all again! The apps were on the smaller side but really delicious. For salads I ordered the eggplant salad. Wow. Might have been the highlight of the night. As an entree I ordered the Bronzino. It was good but I think the apps and salad were better than my entree. However, they had no problem accommodating my requests, which I appreciated! Others at the table orders the salmon special that had sun-dried tomatoes, the zuppa, and the shrimp. Everyone was pleased. Dessert was a home run here. Definitely save room for that! They brought out a desser for my mom for her birthday which was a nice touch. I would definitely come back to L'Allegria for a nice date night or to celebrate a special occasion! read more

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This was not what I had expected from a restaurant in Madison, NJ. Was looking forward to eating here for a late Father's Day lunch. It's average at best. The restaurant was empty and the service extremely slow! The octopus appetizer was good and tender. My pasta filled with sausage and broccoli rabe was too al dente'. This entree' comes with 4 huge portions. Dessert was good, but the fly flying around our table did not make it enjoyable. Will not be returning. read more

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Although the food was absolutely delicious. The service was atrocious. Our waitress did not even come by once during the entire meal to ask us how everything was. If it wasn't for the poor gentleman bussing the food asking us, I don't think we would've gotten asked at all. I finished my beverage shortly after the appetizer and the empty glass wasn't even acknowledge by our waitress, so I had nothing to drink with my meal except for water. She walked by our table at least 6 times without any acknowledgement and at the end of the evening she never asked "how was everything" just "do you want anything else? " The unfortunate part is that quality of the food at this place is exceptional. However, they really do need to hire better wait staff or train them better because it really destroyed the entire experience. read more

When you walk in, the place is very nice, as is the staff. It has stone work around the bar which I thought looked great. Our drinks were taken right away and food came out well paced. For appetizer we ordered the octopus with a tomato sauce. Octopus is one of our favorites, unfortunately it fell flat. It didn't have much flavor and was over braised, almost mushy. I ordered broccoli rabe and sausage agnolotti. 3 of my favorite things in one dish, I was excited. The dish came out and the pasta was massive, about the size of a fist. This took me by surprise being agnolotti are usually like small ravioli or a big tortellini. The stuffing was decent, the sauce sauce didn't taste like anything. I even went back in with bread to make sure. Just not seasoned at all. The theme continued with our other dish, veal saltimbocca. In a dish with an inherently salty meat, prosciutto, you couldn't taste any. The spinach was bland, the sauce was also not seasoned well. One the plus side, the veal was cooked well, able to cut it with a fork. It could have been an off night as there was decent foot traffic for a Tuesday dinner service but our meal was a fair 2 stars. read more

Lovely atmosphere and great food. Tremendous menu - so much to choose from. The staff is friendly and professional. Food is beautifully presented. We had our wedding luncheon here a few years ago and we will continue to return. read more

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I don't understand the low stars on a lot of these reviews. The guy I dated in my late teens used to bring me here every Valentine's Day, occasional dates, and it was his family's go-to spot for parties. I have eaten & enjoyed several different dishes here, but absolutely fell in love with the Aragosta specialta della casa.. Lobster chunks in a cognac sauce.. Omg. I had mentioned it to my bff forever ago and since we recently ventured out of friend zone territory, he chose this place for our first official date. It has been over 15 years since I've had my lobster special, and to be honest I was worried about having it again. Tastes change, restaurants change, I was nervous. Omg omg omg. It's still delicious as ever, and I am so glad I took the risk of ruining precious food memories, because now I have more to sit and drool over. He had some sort of huge slab of red meat special, I dunno, I didn't really pay attention. I did have a taste and it was excellent, but I was focused mainly on my food. Seriously good stuff. This was sitting in my unfinished for a year so I hope it's still good :) read more

1st off All our Suzzane was helping out customise dishes, Great ambiance Food was 8/10, read more

I have been here with groups of 6-12 Good food and excellent service However came with a group of 40 and ate upstairs The service and food were not good at all They could not support red wine at the bar, Service (2 servers for the whole group) was SLOW Worst of all were the entrees. My vegetables were cold my fish lukewarm. Our server never came back to ask if everything was ok Such a huge disappointment read more

So disappointed with this place! After living in Madison a couple of years, and eating at almost every restaurant nearby, I was borderline giddy to finally try L'Allegria. My friend and I were the first party to arrive for dinner on a Friday night. She and I didn't mind the decor that makes The place feel like you've been time warped back to family dinner at a New Jersey Italian eatery in 1998. What I did mind, however, was the ultra lousy service. I asked that a dish be made with broccoli rabe and sauce.... then was presented with a bowl of spaghetti and regular (from a freezer bag) broccoli swimming in a greasy broth. Yeah, I have pictures to prove it. The server never once asked how our food was. When he finally came to clear the dishes away, and I told him that my food and prepared wrong, he argued that he gave me what I ordered. He didn't ask if we wanted desert, so when I asked if we could see a dessert menu, I was taken aback by the plastic replicas of desert glued to a tray, coated in dust. However, desert was delicious, and the two stars are strictly because of that. I'll meet you anytime you want at our Italian restaurant. Just not this one, please! read more

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The only way to start off this review is by stating how absolutely delicious the food is! I highly recommend the cod. Delicious food, great atmosphere, great service.. we will definitely be going back soon! read more

This was our first time dining in this restaurant and we were disappointed. The man that greeted us seemed so put off that we walked in with our young daughters, even though we had a reservation. We waited a while for menus, and it wasn't clear who our waitress was because we were asked the same questions several times. The food was decent, but would choose another restaurant before this one due to the service and the fact that we weren't welcomed when we arrived. read more

we were looking for a place to celebrate my in-laws' anniversary... they are willing to give us a small party room and serve us... they were able to do family style appetizer for our party, and let us order whatever they have on the menu... they even let us bring our own cake and didn't charge us extra for that... Service is super!! they took care of all of our need: from making sure our water glass is always filled, to taking group pictures for us... they are incredible!! Will go back and try regular dinner and see... I am sure they will be good... :) read more

My husband and I had our wedding rehearsal dinner in the private upstairs room, I still have friends tell me how amazing the food was for that. My one friend says it's the best saltimbocca she's ever had, so I was so pleased that I chose such a location for my rehearsal dinner. Their piano player was also there that night playing his heart out, everyone was taking turns going down to watch him play. He's a treasure. We've since spent our 1st and now 2nd anniversary there to celebrate. First off, the piano player always remembers me right away and plays our wedding song ("Something" by the Beatles) without me even reminding him what it was, he just is that good and he remembers. The ambiance is rustic and romantic. The service is always impeccable, attentive and classy. They make you feel like you are important. Their custom cocktails are a wonderful way to start the meal off right. I love the Italian lemonade cocktail and my husband loves their espresso martini. The assorted bread basket to start is dangerously good because the olive oil you use to dip is high quality. My favorite appetizer always is the fragolini affogati (baby octopus braised with tomatoes, olives, capers, and olive oil). Other appetizers we've gotten there have always been amazing as well, but I always make sure to order the baby octopus. My husband and I split a special item fra diavolo linguine with seafood. Pasta was cooked to al dente perfection which is so important and seafood was fresh and tender. I ordered the veal osso buco (which I've had before there) it comes with saffron risotto and string beans. You can see the strands of saffron in the risotto and they don't skimp you on that. The flavor is real and quality. The osso buco itself is matchless fall off the bone good. They give you a cocktail fork to access the marrow which is so decedent and rich. My husband ordered the veal saltimbocca. We couldn't get over how tender it was. We somehow managed to split a chocolate gelato to finish off an amazing evening of indulging. We are genuinely always so impressed with L'allegria. The ambiance, attentive and kind staff, authentic Italian cuisine, and our favorite piano man, an evening here will be one you will always remember. We plan to keep this tradition going and have all of our anniversary dinners here for years to come. read more

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The inside is tacky. The Sea Bass was bland and the sauce was overly watery. 3 stars at best.

Pros: - Pianist playing Christmas music Cons: - The food. Some of the worst I've ever had. read more

Upscale Italian restaurant. It's not BYOB but the bottles of wine are reasonable. 30$ for a bottle of house $10 for a glass -$12 for cocktails. We sat in the dining room but they have a bar/piano room where you can get food and tapas (small plates) We ordered the Fresh Caves liver and chicken Parm. Chicken parm was good. Caves liver was excellent. I don't order it a lot so it was a nice surprise to see it in the menu. All and all good food a little over priced especially considering it's NOT Byob. It's prob $60-80 per person. read more

L'allegria is a good Italian spot. Went here for dinner to celebrate my mom's bday. Place was empty on a Sunday afternoon. Food: Apps are not family style so you have to order a few. The cold antipasto was enough to feed 1 person and there were 6 of us. It was pricey too. We had to order another. 1 piece of salami is not going to feed a table of 6. Calamari same issue but we decided against ordering another one. Main course I had the gnocchi which were superb. Melted in my mouth. The sauce was a veal ragu which I figured would have chunks of veal but I didn't find any. Kind of a bummer. I tried my fiance's braciole and it was pretty good. Dessert was a combo of tiramisu (eh), chocolate cake (decent) and a large cannoli. Wine selection was good but they were expensive. Service - Excellent. Our waiter was super friendly, patient, attentive and down to earth. Prices - Expensive for moderate food. read more

Amazing food. Excellent service. Great wine list. Piano playing in the background. Romantic lighting. What else do you want?

This review is on the longer side, but it is *IMPORTANT* to read if you plan on booking a reservation at L'Allegria for a party of 8 OR MORE, or if you're not a fan of being completely screwed over. My family and I went here last week for my mother's birthday and we were a party of 13. We *were* longtime customers of L'Allegria as we have hosted a number family gatherings and repasses here for over 20 years now. Being very familiar with the restaurant and their food, we were excited for another family celebration. Before I get into the real reason I am writing this lengthy review, I feel that it is important to comment on the overall service times for all who value those details in reviews. Our appetizers took an hour and a half after ordering to come out, and our entrees another 45 minutes after that. No big deal in this case, as we did not want to be rushed so we could enjoy and celebrate the occasion with family we don't get to see everyday. And by no means were we rushed........ In comes our waitress, who was snarky from the beginning and rather unprofessional. She was not attentive to our party whatsoever, she would turn her back to our table to grab a piece of bread from the bussing station and start eating it (which was right next to our private room), and she only checked up on us a few times during the night. But the aforementioned professional flaws demonstrated by our waitress pale in comparison to the character flaws that were revealed later on... Throughout the night, whenever we asked the waitress for more water or another drink, she would sarcastically respond with "no..." and laugh it off. Cute if done only once, but not appropriate for a restaurant that takes pride in providing a "fine dining," white glove experience. When our appetizers finally came out and we were finished with our meals, our waitress cleared the table. But once finished with our entrees, a busser who had not serviced our table at all during the night cleared the table. While the busser was clearing the table, my mother noticed our waitress eating the Osso Buco entree, which was presumably her dinner. By the time we finished the few desserts and coffees we ordered for the table, it was 11:00pm and everyone was tired and ready to wrap up the night. My father fronted the entire bill as a treat, and when we asked for a copy of the itemized bill, the waitress hesitated before going to make a copy. A NEW waitress, who also had not serviced our table before during the night, brought out the copy of the bill. Weird, but we didn't think anything of it... until the next morning. My mother typically asks for copies of bills to see the varying prices of wines at different restaurants. When taking a second look at the bill my mother noticed we were charged for 14 entrees (remember, we were a party of 13). I was not drinking that night, as I was serving as the designated driver, nor was my mother drinking. My mother confirmed with me everyone's orders, and the initial discrepancy was over an extra Osso Buco on the bill (remember, my mother noticed our waitress eating this meal in the service station). This is where we started questioning the entire bill. After going over every item on the bill, and calling each of my family members who was in attendance to confirm their meals, we found we were overcharged with the following: - 1 extra entree - 1 extra appetizer - 6 extra cocktails - 2 extra bottles of wine - 8 cappuccinos, when we really ordered 8 coffees - 6 extra desserts After calculating what should have been our true cost, the total amount we were overcharged exceeded $300. My parents, although heated, wanted to confront the owner in a professional way. My mother, previously being a bookkeeper, wrote down everyone's orders, what should have been our true itemized bill, and highlighted the above items that we were over charged for prior to going back to the restaurant. When L'Allegria opened the next day, they went over to explain to the owner what happened and went over in detail the paper trail my mother brought along with her. Completely without remorse and accountability for his staff's actions (as any half-decent owner would be), the owner defended the waitress and brushed it off with "she was probably overwhelmed and stressed being it was a Saturday night." Mind you, we were one of her only tables and she's been waitressing here (and probably screwing over large parties) for 12 years. So I doubt she finds non-demanding 13-tops "overwhelming." He then proceeded to condescendingly whip out a wad of cash from his wallet, and hand my parents over the difference in the amount we were overcharged. Disappointingly, my parents accepted the owner's non-empathetic apology. Had the outcome been different, or had the owner demonstrated decent customer service, I would have passed on the reputation-hindering, permanent Yelp review. However, the justice now lies with karma, which eventually always catches up to people. read more

A nice restaurant. Great private rooms. Great pasta and delicious mussels. The pizza is not great. The crust was dry but the sauce and cheese is great. Their red sauce is very good. Lasnana is a 9. Great Cappuccino! read more

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I decided to rate three stars on my last experience, but honestly really do love this restaurant very much. My problem is the inconsistency with service. The older gentlemen servers do a much better job at making sure you're well attended to. The younger, not so much. The food is always great, so I won't comment on that part of the overall experience. Last Saturday we were seated in the upper portion of the restaurant, in a corner with the pitched roof. The table seemed fine, except that the only light for that area was out. It's really just a simple change of a bulb, right? After asking three times if someone could put a new bulb in, the younger guy told us "we don't have anymore". This was after I had to literally call him over to our table. When we pointed out that there's a major drug store chain location across the street, he thought our suggestion was amusing and walked away. About 20 minutes later, someone did replace the bulb and it was actually quite nice that we could see one another, and eventually, what we had ordered. The major problem of the evening: When you're joking with the people at your table that we should have our waiters face put on a milk carton because he seems to be missing, this is a problem in itself. Luckily we had lots to talk about, because our many hours of waiting were at least filled with conversation and not us looking around for our server around empty glasses of every kind. Aside from just a general feeling of abandonment, he never stopped by to ask how our meals were (really hated that), never once refilled any water glasses (I had one drink the whole night and asked another person at the table for their glass of water knowing I'd never get another) and the last glass of wine we ordered never arrived, but were billed for. He did apologize for forgetting the wine, but didn't care enough to remove it from the bill. When he brought the check, we actually wouldn't let him leave before we produced a credit card. Why wait another 1/2 hour staring at empty water glasses? Overall, we were embarrassed that we had raved to our companions that the previous Saturday we had a perfect meal and service. What a difference a week makes. That's how it goes. One week, it's a great experience, the next week, you're looking for a bullhorn to ask for the check. Like I said, the food is really good and always look forward to certain dishes here, the only problem is getting them from the kitchen to your table. Well, at least last Saturday, that is. read more

Typical Italian decor At first there was a smell at the entrance Group of 4 We ordered 2 salads fresh and tasty as main courses gnocchi was just OK Pasta with foie gras was excellent chicken thighs was perfect and last dish farrow with broccoli rabe and bean was the best. read more

Very fancy old school suburbs corporate lunch kinda place. Fantastic Italian food, impeccable service, very expensive. I would NEVER go there on my own (way to stuffy), but enjoyed my corporate lunch there. read more

Meh. The food isn't all that good, but at least you're paying too much for it. The service was also sort of lousy, the waiter a bit pushy. There didn't seem to be a drinks list, but they were overenthusiastic about pushing wine. If you want Italian food in Madison, you have tons of options, all better than this. I also found the decor to be fairly tacky. read more

Fancy place that doesn't live up to the food quality. Upon walking into the place, the place was busy with a communion party and there's alot of kids but "older" kids at least 10 years old. The decor is "stuffy" but elegant enough to sit down and enjoy the ambience. This is not a kid (toddler) friendly place. They do not have high chairs but have booster seats without the safety belts. So, you could imagine here I'm squished very closely to the 22 month old and my husband on the other side so the baby doesn't tip over. Then there's my toddler who can't bear to be far away from me and sat very closely in an "adult" chair. We have this huge round table and all four of us are on one side......let's say it's a cozy family gathering. :o) Now, the food. Menu has enormous choices and it's written well in terms of intriguing dishes. What doesn't deliver is the taste and presentation of the food. Maybe the chef that night was off. DISAPPOINTING! The penne vodka for my toddler was not appetizing although she gobbled it up. I had better penne vodka like Carmine's in Manhattan. Had the roasted duck with hot cherry sauce and pear with strawberry liqueur....the duck was dry and not tender. the pear with strawberry liqueur was tasty but you can't make a meal on just that! The duck was shown, half a duck where I was expecting slices with the sauce drizzled over it. Then the side vegetables could use some spiffying up.....on the plate was one small red potato and one crown of cauliflower. My mother had the brazino - which is a classic Meditteranean sea bass dish and she said the fish was dry. My dad ordered the pork tenderloin and the meat was dry.......see the theme? dry dry dry....overcooked! don't know it's a bad night or that's how it is. My husband had the seafood crepes but I find the filling not quality crabmeat, not enough filling and the brandy sauce that barely tastes to its name. Overall, I won't be visiting this place again. There's plenty of other good Italian restaurants at less cost with good quality food. I may be a harsh critic but maybe spoiled from eating in Italy. read more

I have not been back here in recent years but I came hear several times with my family over the years. Had my high school graduation dinner here. Even squeezed ourselves in one Christmas eve last minute. They were VERY accommodating. They had a great caprese mozzarella salad. I always got the lobster which was delicious - it's lobster, it would take a genius to mess that up. My friend had the 'strangled priests' pasta based on the comical name and really liked it. Every time we've been here service is top notch, classy and super nice. The food is really good. When you're there, you don't feel like you're on a side street in Madison. Upscale and a good date spot or for celebrating a special occasion. I want to go back soon! read more

Great food and service,pastas,meats ,fish,salads and desserts So many choices Convenient parking read more

This place is just very comfortable. Easy dining, good service, authentic menu, Worth a trip to enjoy. Food was amazing, great evening.

My wife bought a $100 Groupon for $40, so we didn't hold back on what we ordered. Nice bottle of wine, two appetizers, pricey entrees - no room for dessert. First of all, everything was great. Had a shrimp, calamari, crabmeat appetizer and a mozzarella salad, both of which were large and delicious with every mouthful. Frankly, that would have been the meal for me - plenty of food. Then came our entrees. I had a lobster dish and my wife had the red snapper. Both cooked to perfection and prepared commensurate with the price. Okay, now here's the slightly odd thing that happened... For some reason, instead of keeping your wine in an ice bucket by your table, they use one bucket for several tables and keep it next to one of them. So our bottle was in the bucket with two or three other bottles. I believe they inadvertently gave about a third of our wine to another table. They poured just a couple times and suddenly the bottle was no longer in the bucket. So we paid for a nice bottle of white, but the wine was gone by the time the entrees arrived. Neither of us remember them making the final pour, which I think we would have noticed, but we weren't certain enough to complain. read more

Had a fantastic time! Food was tasty and service was the best I've ever gotten! Amelia did a phenomenal job making us feel welcome and well taken care of. Will be sure to return. read more

While the food can be on the pricy side (appetizers run around $12, and entrees $20+), the service is astute and the atmosphere eye-catching. The dishes are traditional Italian fare, made with fresh ingredients and homemade pastas. Pay attention to the specials, as they can offer ingredients rarely seen in many other Italian restaurants. read more

L'Allegria - Inside - Italian Near Me - Madison, New Jersey

I never knew this restaurant was open. I work 2 minutes from L'Allegria and have driven past many times but I always thought it was closed. The entrance is on the side/back and the windows are pretty heavily curtained. Went here to dinner with my dad after going through Yelp and it was ok. Heavy food, very old school Italian. The wine list was decent, I always appreciate a restaurant that has a full bar and so many Italian restaurants in the area are BYO. The food was unremarkable. I was here last week and can't really remember what I had, I know it was pasta with shrimp but that's about it. My dad ordered the medallions of filet and while the meat was tender it really was more of a strip steak, though it certainly was priced as if it really was filet. In this area there are so many other great Italian restaurants to go to that it's really not worth spending the $100+ for 2 entrees and a bottle of wine. You can definitely do better. read more

We dined here for the first time last night with a group of ten from Manhattan and it was a lovely experience. From the moment we walked in we felt welcomed and taken care of. The staff was so friendly and attentive and the food was wonderful. We were a rowdy group and they were very patient with us and our requests. :) we will definitely come back soon. Highly recommend! read more