First Impressions:
Walking into Madre in Redlands feels like a breath of fresh air. The old brick walls, high ceilings, beautiful tables, and gorgeous décor make it feel cozy yet special at the same time.
Right away, Giselle, the hostess, made us feel so welcome. She is warm, friendly, and exactly the kind of person you want greeting you at the door. She answered our questions, made us feel right at home, and set the perfect tone for the rest of the night.
Service:
Our server, Alexis, was just as amazing. She is so sweet, attentive, and happy to help with anything we needed. We had a lot of questions and she answered them all with a smile. Honestly, between Giselle and Alexis, the service could not have been better.
Starters:
We started with the bruschetta and wow. So fresh, so light, and the bread was perfectly crispy on the outside and soft inside. The kind of appetizer you could eat every day and never get tired of.
Then we tried the fried mozzarella and I am telling you, it was the best mozzarella I have ever had. Instead of little sticks, these were big, golden squares of cheesy goodness. Crispy on the outside, perfectly melty in the middle, and just delicious.
Mains:
My husband ordered the spicy Italian pizza and it was incredible. Everything tasted super fresh with hot honey, salami, capicola, pepperoni, and sausage. So flavorful with just the right amount of heat and sweetness.
I had the fettuccine Capriccioso with chicken, prosciutto, basil, onions, and tomatoes in a Crema Rosa sauce. The sauce reminded me of a really good vodka sauce but fresher. The chicken was a tiny bit overcooked, but the sauce was so good it was still a 10 out of 10 pasta for me.
Our daughter got the chicken strips and fries, which were perfect. I love that they have a solid kids menu too.
Final Thoughts:
I have been wishing for a great Italian restaurant in Redlands ever since we moved here in 2019, and I finally found it. Madre feels new, fresh, and full of good energy. The service is wonderful, the food is amazing, and the atmosphere just makes you want to linger and enjoy.
We actually came in after grabbing drinks and listening to live music at the Irish pub next door, and I am so glad we decided to try it. Everything from start to finish was so good. Redlands finally has an Italian spot worth getting excited about, and we will be back again very soon! read more