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    Martini Modern Italian

    4.2 (672 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Martini Modern Italian Takeout or Delivery

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    MARTINI MODERN ITALIAN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Upscale
    Dressy

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    Recommended Reviews - Martini Modern Italian

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    Different take on Carbonara.
    Daniel R.

    This place was one of the best circumstantial hangs. Comfortable. Great location. Staff was exceptional. Decor was engaging. I spent a pretty penny and wasn't disappointed (wait for it....). My appetizer was an arancini bowl. Shockingly ample, and more tasty than I could have hoped for. Well done! The lamb pasta was decadent. Pure deliciousness. I would also like to send kudos to Kevin, the bartender. He's amazing. I asked for a wine pairing, but the pairing was a flop. Either your wine catalogue needs better attention, or you should train the staff. The key thing that stopped me from 5 stars was my take-home order. I am a huge fan of creamy pasta. I ordered the carbonara to go. ***before you start*** This carbonara was not a traditional noodle. It didn't feature the noodles, the egg, or otherwise. It featured asparagus and other elements. Texture was off, but not in a good way. I would definitely recommend a re-evaluation of that carbonara. I look forward to coming back with a more sophisticated wine menu/recommendation, and a carbonara that will appeal for its price point.

    Tiramisu
    Shawn L.

    Great food, service and atmosphere. The pricing isn't for faint of heart but the quality and presentation make up for it.

    Ribeye Radiatori
    Nick S.

    Martini is one of the top Italian restaurants downtown, and is in a fantastic location between the Short North and Arena District. All of their ingredients are fresh, you can tell the pasta is made from scratch daily, and every dish is delicious! The service is top notch and this is an excellent option for a date night or dinner with friends & family. If you're in Columbus and craving a nice Italian meal, this is always a great choice!

    Affogato ... yum!
    Charles L.

    Dinner with my son on Friday night. Seated promptly with a reservation. Lots of activity at the bar -- good vibe. I found the back room to be a bit stuffed-shirt and lacking personality. Server was excellent and well trained ... friendly and professional. Focaccia bread with truffle was underwhelming. Tuna tartare was superb. My son had the lamb paperdelle which looked great, was a nice sized portion, and he said it was very good. I had the chicken parmigiana, which was an overly refined presentation, but tasty. I prefer a traditional parmigiana in a deep dish loaded with sauce and cheese. Affogato for desert was a great presentation and yummy! This is a good restaurant with a varied menu and is, true to its PR, "modern Italian." If you want an Italian meal go elsewhere. If you want steak, with some Italian offerings, this restaurant is a good choice with good service and solid food offerings.

    Lamb Pappardelle
    Chanel F.

    Came here on a Friday night and the place was packed! Although it was packed the service was great and actually pretty fast! We got the beet salad to start and we both got the Lamb Pappardelle Pasta since it was raved about! Personally it wasn't jaw dropping that I would get it again and the noodles themselves lacked salt. I would definitely be open to trying something else next time. Overall cute spot for a date night!

    Bar area and seating/ambiance
    Daniel M.

    This has to be one of my favorite restaurants. The ambiance alone is great for a date night. Hailey was an amazing server and helped direct us to the perfect wine. We ordered the Shrimp pasta and the Mushroom pasta and both were absolutely amazing. The chocolate torte is also worth saving room for!

    Virgin espresso "martini"
    Kristine H.

    This restaurant exceeded all expectations; from the stunning design to the exceptional food, drinks, and customer service. I highly recommend making a reservation, as the bar area is open seating but fills up fast. We sat at the bar until our table was ready, and were lucky to have Brad as our bartender; he was incredibly friendly and helpful with drink recommendations. The food is a must! Every dish was freshly prepared and absolutely delicious. And the tiramisu? Easily the best I've ever had in my life. It's one of those desserts you savor with your eyes closed just to take in every layer of flavor.

    Lasagna
    Caleb V.

    Great atmosphere and amazing service. The lasagna was very good, but lacked a bit of flavor in my opinion. Oh, and I was a little surprised you had to pay for bread service. Still overall an amazing place and definitely recommend.

    Martini Salad
    Charlie L.

    Dined here with colleagues recently. The restaurant has a nice vibe, it feels upscale but also welcoming. Our server was great. She expertly split our checks both for shared appetizers, our individual mains, and separate checks for alcohol. I made a reservation although it wasn't too crowded on the evening we were there. I split a Martini Salad (simple, but nicely executed, perfect size for sharing) with one of my coworkers and we all shared the truffled garlic bread. The garlic bread was delicious and not too filling before dinner. I ordered the penne the alla vodka - ate it all, nary a cremini mushroom left on my plate. One coworker had the butternut squash tortelloni, the other had the chicken carbonara. We all enjoyed our meals. No dessert because we were all quite full. Whenever I'm in Columbus for work, I like to get a meal here since it's reliably good and enjoyable.

    Tiffany D.

    Ate here this evening for my birthday! I got an appetizer calamari and shrimp! It was delicious. I highly recommend it. I really wanted to try the lasagna but I was stiffed so I did not. Our waitress/ bartender was great. I def recommend coming out to this place. Great service and fun times and great food!

    Garlic Bread with fondue

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    The service was great! Nice ambiance. The appetizers are nice as well. Enjoyed the drinks. Pricey but it's valued quality!

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    2 months ago

    Chicken piccata and barramundi were the picks for our table and everything was awesome! It was packed but service was still top notch!

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    2 months ago

    Best chicken parm in all of Columbus! Vibes are so cute and service never fails! I am always looking for a reason to go back

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    Page 1 of 17

    Ask the Community - Martini Modern Italian

    How much would you normally spend here?

    Depends on whether you get drinks, apps, and/or dessert. Last time my boyfriend and I came we had a total of 2 alcoholic drinks, we shared an appetizer and a cup of soup, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts and it was about $120. If you just get entrees… Read more

    Do they still serve the Basil Vine Smash?

    It isn't listed on their printed cocktail menu.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria

    4.5(635 reviews)
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    Wow! Where do I begin!!…read more I made a reservation for this restaurant after I friend of mine raved about it. Our reservation was at 7:30p and we were seated promptly upon arrival. Our servers name was DJ, she did an impeccable job. Very friendly, answered all of our questions and was very good at her job!) We ordered the Pasta Fritto for an appetizer and it was incredible. Bread service was included with the meal and the garlic bread was good! We both decided to get Alfredo and it was 10/10. Super creamy and rich, noodles were cooked perfectly. We then ordered 3 different desserts and brought them home to try. We got the Cannoli, Tiramisu and Carrot Cake. They're all made in the bakery next door and fresh as can be. The carrot cake was my favorite! I would highly recommend this place! The ambience was quaint and pretty, staff were incredible, food was top notch and the prices were fair. I can't wait to come back!

    Review by :Avila.Eats on TikTok, insta, YouTube…read more Service: wait staff and owner are friendly and attentive. Water was never an issue and all questions were answered thoughtfully. Ambiance/Atmosphere: inside is small but well decorated. Spacious although cramped. Nice interior matching the home like exterior. Food: Spaghetti and meatball is alright. The sauce is a strong acid forward sauce and the meatball is tender and well flavored. The noodles were perfectly cooked and it all paired well together. You could take it or leave it. Lasagna was great. Thick layered meaty lasagna perfectly cooked and balanced between all ingredients. Large portion and thankfully so. I'd recommend. Chicken parm was delicious. Crispy well seasoned chicken breast. This is one of the better chicken parm's I've had in central Ohio. Well seasoned and perfectly cheesy. I'd highly recommend. Chicken Marsala was great. Juicy well seasoned chicken breast paired with a Delicious and well executed marsala mushroom sauce. I'm not a fan of risotto but this is was exceptional. I'd recommend. Chocolate espresso cake was good. I could see this being high on the list for a coffee lovers dessert list. Dense chocolate sponge with a delicious espresso frosting. Bread pudding with whiskey sauce was delicious. Soft, warm, well seasoned bread pudding In a delicious cream and whiskey infused sauce. This was the best bread pudding I've had to date. I'd highly recommend. Cannoli was delicious. Crispy shell and a freshly done ricotta mascarpone cream. The cream itself was a cinnamon cream and paired excellently with the chocolate chips. The best cannoli I've had In Ohio. I'd insist on this order. Carrot cake amazing. This is one of the best if not the best carrot cake in central Ohio. Deep orange color and packed with nuts. No raisins but the cream cheese frosting makes up for it with the subtle sweetness. I'd insist on this order.

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    Cento - Woman's hand pulling up pasta from her plate

    Cento

    4.5(167 reviews)
    1.5 miGerman Village

    My husband and I celebrated Valentine's Day at Cento this year! We had a 5-star experience - from…read morethe service to the drinks to the food! Everything was wonderful! Drinks - my husband had a CBC IPA and I had a Spritzer. Appetizer - we went with the whipped ricotta. This was absolutely delish! The whipped ricotta was creamy, smooth, had a lemony flavor with celery leaves and parsley. Seriously, all of the flavors blended so well together! It was also topped with black truffle and honey (from a local vendor)! The sourdough bread that the whipped ricotta was served with was super fresh and warm (and from a local vendor as well)! Salad - we ordered a Caesar salad as well. I thought that it was super nice that they plated the salad on two plates for us knowing that we were splitting it! Super thoughtful! The romaine was crispy (not soggy), the croutons were freshly made, the dressing had the anchovy flavor that I appreciate in a good Caesar dressing, and the salad was topped with a little lemon zest! I will definitely return just for the Caesar salad! Meals - I went with the Rigatoni and my husband went with the Lasagna. We were informed by our server that the flour used for the pasta is imported from Italy and that the pasta is made fresh daily - LOVE this! The rigatoni was SO good! I love that the pasta and shrimp were all cut into smaller bites! The sauce was absolutely delicious! The flavor was like a mix between a thick tomato bisque and curry! Yum! My husband really enjoyed the lasagna as well! The lasagna was plated into little roll-ups which my husband really liked! Will definitely be back soon - we want to check out the patio once we have warmer weather too!

    I've lived in the neighborhood for 12 years now and was excited when I saw this place being built…read more I have been there a few times now - both times I had the Rigatoni and Shrimp with a glass of red. Approximately $45.00. Last night I went and must say - very surprised at what I paid; glass of red $14, ceaser salad $16, added a side of chicken $15.0!!! Thqt surprised me - thats 3 chicken breast at the store lol Each time I have sat at the bar - both inside and out (even in winter). Great ambiance. I love the bar inside - gives an upscale 50s diner with great design and mood. The outdoor bar in winter is very nice and warm - haven't had trouble grabbing a seat at either. Bartenders are nice, very attentive and knowledgeable. Parking is easy, there is valet offered. Overall - a bit over priced for generally good food, but a pleasant night out for date night or girls night out.

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    Cento - The Garden Terrazzo, heated in winter

    The Garden Terrazzo, heated in winter

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    Lemon Tart with whipped cream and raspberries

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    Speck Italian Eatery - Tortellini and Funghi

    Speck Italian Eatery

    4.4(211 reviews)
    0.5 miDowntown

    I was totally in love with this space and the food served inside. We ate around 6 PM and it was…read moregolden hour so the lighting was gorgeous. The space is very bright and airy: loved the floral and plant vibes. Our server was kind but maybe a bit apprehensive because we brought our two daughters. Sometimes I feel bad bringing kids but honestly we deserve to have good food even if there are little mouths involved. We had the focaccia starter and it was as pillowy and sumptuous as it looked. Next was broccolini which our 8 month old devoured. I tried the funghi pasta and my husband had the sausage ragu. Both had generous portions. The kitchen made butter noodles for our daughter and she LOVED them. I was pleased they didn't try to doll them up because she really did just want noodles and butter. Finally, the octopus was sooo tasty. The sauce was super flavorful and I love a good bean addition. Delicious meal all around.

    Love the spring menu they have out now, I'm going to have dreams about the Cavatelli Sardi! The…read morecitrus flavor was such a refreshing surprise! Highly recommend their Aperol Spritz, probably my favorite I've had in Columbus. I really enjoyed the Cacio E Pepe too, I ordered that as my main dish and shared the cavatelli with a friend. This is such a cute spot, it was perfect for a birthday dinner! Service was great, our waiter checked in often and food came out quickly despite how busy the restaurant was. Definitely recommend making a reservation, but there were bar seats open on a Thursday evening! If you park in the Nicholas Garage, the door opens right onto High Street, next door to Speck.

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    Speck Italian Eatery - Gem salad. Arguably the best salad I've ever had.

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    La Tavola - Bucatini and meatballs

    La Tavola

    4.5(342 reviews)
    2.6 mi
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    I had the pleasure of being in Ohio last night, well for this week, we're in town for my son's…read moregraduation. My son and his wife took us to a an amazing place they stumbled into what may very well be the culinary pride of Columbus: La Tavola, a family-owned, family-run Italian restaurant that feels like someone teleported you straight into Nonna's kitchen... but with better lighting and no guilt about not calling enough. If you love yourself a great, unapologetically stinky pizza and I'm talking Parmigiano-Reggiano and ricotta levels of heavenly funk then this is your place. This pizza didn't just have cheese; it was knee-deep in cheese. Handmade, hand-rolled, and clearly crafted by people who know their way around a dairy situation. The appetizers? Fantastic. The waitstaff? Friendly, attentive, and exactly the kind of people you'd hope are handing you carbs by the plateful. But then, the main dishes arrived. I ordered seared scallops over a bed of handmade buttery fettuccine with capers, and I swear I heard an angel sing. The scallops were perfectly cooked, the pasta was the kind that ruins you for boxed pasta forever, and the whole thing tasted like someone's Italian grandmother blessed the plate personally. If I could say "WAY TO GO!" in Italian, I absolutely would but instead I'll say this: If you're ever in Columbus, go to La Tavola. Go hungry. Go ready to eat like you're visiting family. And go prepared to fall a little bit in love with this place. Family-owned, warm, cozy, and outrageously delicious. Highly recommend.

    Nice neighborhood Italian restaurant. Warm wood decor and friendly service. Big selection of…read moreItalian wines and expertise to help you discover them. We had the he prosciutto board - I didn't really think about prosciutto varieties! Pretty big even for 2. I had a special - confit duck keg over polenta. Savory m, rich, delicious. My friend had the pasta burro, described as the original Alfredo. It was very nice - but he chicken breading was light and crisp. Overall a very good experience.

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    Basi Italia

    4.4(446 reviews)
    0.6 miVictorian Village
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    Basi Italia is one of those places you almost want to gatekeep. It's tucked away in Victorian…read moreVillage and has the cutest, most charming vibe. The space is super intimate and classy, perfect for a slower, more special dinner. The food was so good, you can tell everything is really high quality and made with care. Everything we ordered felt elevated but still super comforting, which I loved. I got the rigatoni which was some of the best sausage/pasta dishes I've had in a while. The service was also really prompt and attentive without being too much, which made the whole experience even better. Such a good spot for a special dinner or date night if you want something that feels a little more unique and memorable. Next time I'm saving a little more space in my stomach for the Tiramisu!

    Where should I start? Made reservations for 5:30 & promptly arrived a few minutes ahead of time…read more The Hostess sat us down in the rear of this quaint little spot & she asked if we are celebrating anything or what? I answered Yes,it's my Wife's Birthday She said Great & Wished her a Happy Birthday. Valet parking right up front of establishment for a nominal price of $10* Nice feature. Sat down & met our server/waiter Egan He went over specials & menu briefly. Then we received our miniscule bread/biscuit as an offering while waiting for our salads that we ordered. Very savory and tasty but small. BTW,as soon as we finished,he took the plates. Just one little biscuit each, like we are little gerbels. ? Egan gave us our water glasses & water bottle. *(First & last time he served us any water)* ‍ Then came our cocktails, my wife's drink was super dry & tart, so she asked Egan if they could freshen it up..."What's Up" & he brought out some simple syrup. The drink was somewhat better, & I finished my cocktail. He took the empty glass & never asked if I'd like another one? He did ask if my wife's drink was better she answered yes. But, no further engagement or query about the drink? Other than like he was talking a survey in order to make the drink better for the next guest,but NOT my wife⁉ Very odd & pisspoor services. This being our 1st time here,we we're anticipating something Grandeur & Services that matches the overhyped & overpriced selections on this limited variety small menu. The ambiance was flat & no music or anything in the background. Just restaurant noise & people chatter. The lackluster & non-enthusiastic dealings from Egan ,our server was appalling. When my asked him something, his reply was "What's Up"?? Areya Kidding me? Are we in a Gym or Dive,Noooooo. We are supposedly in a Higher Upscale Trendy place?? We both were NOT Impressed at all. The Principle of paying a Higher Price for a Higher or Better Experience is relative to the overall experience. Which was non-impressive,we've had better treatment at a Dairy Queen or Bob Evans Again, this was our first & last time coming here There was 2 ladies that actually were very nice & attentive that brought out the salads & main entrée. They were both very professional & kind. Now let's talk about the food. My wife's eggplant parmesan was delicious & she took home the leftovers. My shrimp linguine was very tasty and yummy,just very small portions & 6 shrimp in my entrée. Hardly any linguine, sauce was delicious but definitely NOT a filling meal. Where's the Meat?? One of the two ladies came back & dropped off desert menu...but we declined anything else. Just the bill please. So here comes Egan & I let my wife handle him as she asked him the following. We've heard such great things about this place & we had high expectations & wanted to make the night memorable & special with it being our first time & my birthday. But you seemed less concerned about us & failed our expectations. Then she asked him why didn't you ask my husband or I if we wanted another cocktail*? Also why did you never refill our water glasses? When asked Egan replied again with "What's Up"? In any Restaurant USA a waiter/waitress serves & customarily asks if you like another drink or something else. So before I wrote this review, I asked for my wife's input. She wanted to give this place a One Star But I convinced her that they're was a few bright spots. None of which was our server Egan with his lame uncaring approach to what he thinks is customer service. Unfortunately, NOT a good experience. As a Yelper Elite for 8Yrs now, I've been around the USA & World. I've had countless interactions & quite frankly this place was extremely disappointing. Some places earn their reputation from unsavy or perhaps gullible people that don't know any better. As for Me & My Wife, we are World Travelers & from Coast to Coast have sampled & had numerous festivities & fun....this rates as one of our lowestttttttttt experiences ever

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    Basi Italia - Caesar salad

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    Forno Kitchen + Bar

    Forno Kitchen + Bar

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    0.4 miShort North
    $$

    My friend and I went out for happy hour and had such a great time on the outdoor patio. It was the…read moreperfect day to be outside--finally feels like winter is breaking! I ordered two seafood apps: the seared scallops and the garlic roasted shrimp, and both were excellent. The scallops had a perfect sear on both sides, which was a great start, and the shrimp were seasoned really well. For drinks, we both got the Supremo Peach--so delicious and refreshing. I also tried the espresso martini. It was good, but honestly, I wish I had just stuck with the Supremo Peach because the switch was a bit of a shock to my palate. We spent time chatting and really enjoyed the atmosphere. Service was quick, and our waiter was very attentive--he even checked back in with us before happy hour ended, which I appreciated. This experience was night and day compared to my last visit, and I'm really glad I gave this place another chance. For me, this might be the perfect happy hour spot. The apps feel more like small plates, which I love for the variety, and a great cocktail like the Supremo Peach definitely seals the deal. Thanks, Forno!

    If you're in the Short North & craving Italian, Forno should be on your list of go-to's! They have…read morea ton of great pizza options, delicious appetizers and amazing Italian dishes! The atmosphere here is very inviting and lively making this the perfect place for a girls night or casual date night. The service here is spot on and they have a really yummy brunch as well! You can't go wrong with any pizza, dish or cocktail when you come here; you've got to give them a try if you haven't already!

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    Forno Kitchen + Bar - Left side of restaurant

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    Forno Kitchen + Bar
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    Pasqualone's Ristorante - Lasagna

    Pasqualone's Ristorante

    4.4(141 reviews)
    8.6 miNorthland
    $$$

    My girlfriend and I went to Pasqualone's in Columbus Square last evening. To say that we were blown…read moreaway would be an understatement. From the time we walked in the door, a gentleman in the kitchen looked up and said greeted us. (There's a door so you can see into the kitchen from the foyer) I later learned it was Dave Pasqualone himself. We were promptly shown to our table and within a few minutes, a gentleman by the name of Chris introduced himself and told us what the specials for the evening were. Everything sounded great but my girlfriend picked the saccettini with the amatriciana sauce and I had the veal scalopini with a small side of saccettini. The meal was PERFECT! You could taste richness of the homemade saccettini stuffed with cheese. I was told that the pasta for the lasagna noodles are made on site which is used for the saccettini. The veal scallopini was so tender, I could cut it with a fork. Not too many capers, the right combination of butter, white wine and lemon. My girlfriend's amatriciana sauce (she was kind enough to give me a taste of two) had a little bit of a bite to it but not too much. It was mouth watering. We finished off the evening with a homemade cannoli which was superb. Towards the end of the evening, Dave came out into the dining room and personally greeted each table. We learned that Dave was the head chef at Monaco's Palace on Cleveland Ave many years ago. They always had wonderful food. To find this gem of a restaurant in Northeast Columbus, in a part of town where many restaurants come and go each month or year, is like finding a needle in a haystack. This quiet little Italian restaurant is tucked away in an unassuming strip mall that was incredibly popular in the 80's and 90's and has been churning out delicious homemade Italian dishes for over 20 years. We will definitely become regular patrons of this gem of a place. Thank you Dave, Chris and the other members of their staff to make a date night with my girlfriend a memorable experience.

    A strip mall by a bowling alley, sign me up! Is probably not what you are thinking. This place is…read morereservation only, and you have to call them....on a phone. It's worth the work! This place is old school and I love it! When I walked in for my reservation the Owner/Chef popped out from the kitchen and said "Good Evening Mrs. Wilson" because well, we were the only reservation at that time. Really impressed my friends lol. We picked the day before Thanksgiving to dine out with friends we hadn't seen in a while. This is a great place for a small group to sit and talk (and be heard) without being rushed. Restaurant was 60% full? Fantastic full premium bar, great wine list and helpful servers. Just top to bottom great food and service. From the menu, it seems like a limited selection of standard Italian fair. Order from the specials, they are chef recommended and always fantastic. Even the basic spaghetti + meatballs is great! Entres $30-50 which is really pretty reasonable. Just me but, I would love more vegetables on the menu as sides with my pasta. Most meals do come with soup or salad. Great for small group (less than 10) but not sure how many they would take honestly. You will get fantastic service, great food, in a nice quieter environment. Looking forward to going back in the new year!

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    Pasqualone's Ristorante
    Pasqualone's Ristorante - Escargot

    Escargot

    Pasqualone's Ristorante - Espresso gelato

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    Espresso gelato

    Pelino’s Pasta

    Pelino’s Pasta

    3.7(181 reviews)
    1.4 miUniversity District

    Wow wow WOW. When I say this was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had, I am not…read moreexaggerating. This little gem in Victorian Village is a must visit for anyone who loves authentic Italian food and stellar service. I came here with my roommates family for a celebratory dinner and had an amazing four course dining experience. I was intimidated at first by the number of courses, but each dish is in a small tasting format. Not only was the food delish but our water was incredible. He took time to go through each dish and explain the ingredients and origin. You could tell he was super passionate about his job and the food there. I'm going to come back to try their cacio pepe that they mix in a cheese wheel in front of you!! 10/10!!

    For the price point let's get some new street numbers above the door so it doesn't look like a…read moremailbox. The experience was perfect. The atmosphere was cozy. The dinner made for an amazing dinner out. The presentation of every dish was remarkable. The service was phenomenal and a pretty cool seasonal menu! We did the four course + started with bread that we enjoyed through the meal. Great experience and made for a lovely dinner. Chris has been wanting to check this place out forever. I didn't care for my main dish and they swapped it out rather quickly. A bit pricy especially if anyone in the party orders drinks but I would say worth the experience.

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    Pelino’s Pasta
    Pelino’s Pasta
    Pelino’s Pasta

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    Martini Modern Italian - italian - Updated May 2026

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