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    Osteria Rago

    4.1 (222 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pizza
    Closed Closed

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    OSTERIA RAGO ATMOSPHERE

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    Patata Suprema Pizza
    Kendall E.

    Delicious, authentic Italian food made fresh. Highly recommend. Everything was fantastic. Best Italian in Bloomington.

    The Open Table receipt that clearly shows a $40 deposit and not a $40 fee for the privilege of making a reservation.

    When we booked the reservation over a month ago for Friday of graduation weekend on Open Table we were required to put down a $10 per person DEPOSIT. After we finished lunch and they ran my credit card through I was reminded of the $40 deposit. When I looked at the bill the $40 deposit had not been credited to my tab. I asked the manager about correcting the amount and she said the $40 was for the privilege of making the reservation. I told her that nowhere on Open Table did it say anything other than it was a deposit. She disagreed and said it stated clearly it was a fee. Attached is a screenshot of my Open Table DEPOSIT. The Acacia de Pepe was excellent as always. The Chicken Piccata was great as always. I got adventurous and ordered the Big Al sandwich. It was huge but I made the assumption it would be toasted, it was not. It was ok at best, avoid. My total disappointment with Osteria Rago was more with the deception and crappy attitude of the Manager than the $40. Never dining here again.

    Diavola Pizza
    Kenyatte S.

    Visiting our daughter for the weekend. We were excited to try her favorite Italian Restaurant. She speaks so highly of the staff and food quality. They have a full bar and something for everyone on their menu. We had a reservation for 3, we arrived early and they eagerly accommodated us. We started with Focaccia and oil for the table, our waitress was amazing. She made recommendations and of course we listened. The pizzas were thin, light and so flavorful. I had the chicken Marsala with polenta and I could have literally licked the plate. To top off the dinner we had the tiramisu and it was fabulous. I'm so glad my husband and daughter were there to help me eat it. This place is a gem nestled away in downtown Bloomington. The inside is small and intimate, but very welcoming. I can't wait to visit again.

    Piccata with Chicken
    Carissa B.

    What an incredible dinner! We had an 8:15 PM reservation at Osteria Rago, but since we arrived downtown early, we decided to grab a cocktail at Nick's beforehand. Just as we were finishing our drinks, Osteria called to let us know our table was ready ahead of schedule - an added bonus. We started the night with a bottle of Cakebread wine and the bruschetta appetizer, both of which were outstanding. Our group ordered salads all around, including the Caesar and chopped. These were some of the best salads we've ever had. Our server highly recommended the chopped salad, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. For the main course, we went with the lasagna, piccata, and ravioli. We were all extremely impressed with our selections! The service was impeccable, and the entire experience was nothing short of fantastic. If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favor and make a reservation soon. You won't be disappointed!

    Undercooked salmon  (Tuscan Salmon)
    Dorothy L.

    This was the biggest disappointment of a restaurant. For a place that charges $20-25 a plate for a dish of pasta, it's an embarrassment. Everything from the server to the food quality was atrocious. First off, the sever acted like she had no concept of hospitality; no "hi" or "welcome" not even "my name is xyz and I'll be your server". We didn't even realize she was our server at first; thought she was just the hostess. Then she showed up at our table 20 minutes after seating us acting as if we're a nuisance (with a "dead face" just standing there silently until I say "I think we're ready to order). Even my husband, who never makes a remark, was appalled. But that's not the worst part!!!! FORTY minutes after she takes our order she comes back to say that they're out of fettuccine and which other pasta would we like to substitute for. (I wish I was kidding!). We were there at 2pm and only 3 other tables were filled so no reason for this wait. Then we finally get our food after being there for nearly an hour and a half....and it's super underwhelming. My daughter didn't even eat her meatballs after two bites, husbands chicken was super dry. My Tuscan salmon was the only one decent enough although a bit undercooked. I don't enjoy writing bad reviews but this place is seriously overrated. I don't know if the good reviews are outdated or come from just friends and family but I will never come here again.

    Carbonara
    Ellie S.

    Made a reservation here for my birthday and went with a couple girlfriends. A reservation is an absolute must, because they're always super busy and don't have a lot of seating. The food is really really good, and a great spot to wine and dine with friends. The staff was friendly and helpful. I'll definitely be back!

    Veal Braciole atop Polenta
    Cynthia N.

    For delicious, creative yet authentic Italian cuisine, THIS IS YOUR SPOT. I dined here in a party of 3 earlier this week, and we loved everything about our experience. This was my first time at Osteria Rago (I live out of state); the rest of my party has dined there several times. The wines by the glass we chose from the huge wine menu were excellent (a California chardonnay and an Italian chianti). We got 2 appetizers: 1) Tomatoes Vesta, which was big enough for the 3 of us to split and have plenty each; delicious, especially that lemon ricotta! 2) The appetizer special: veal & rabbit meatballs with peppers and an agridolce sweet & sour sauce. It was unique and FANTASTIC - so glad we ordered it! We wished we could have had 3x as much of it. For my entree, I had the Lasagna (I happen to love crunchy burned edges, and this had some!). The others in my party had the Veal Braciole and the Pesto Pasta, and they said both dishes were excellent. Osteria Rago is small and busy (though cozy), so on weekends or holidays it can be tough to get a table at the time you want - make sure you plan ahead. Service was just right: attentive but not intrusive. I look forward to coming back to this place the next time I visit!

    Tiramisu
    Lara A.

    We dined at Osteria Rago yesterday, 7/3/2024, for my birthday dinner. I am a huge lover of Italian cuisine, and this restaurant did not disappoint! The restaurant is cozy. The hostess was welcoming, and our waitress was very kind and attentive. We began with the appetizer of Tomatoes Vesta. This dish is one I will crave forever! It starts with a lightly crisped focaccia that is still so airy and tender, topped with lemon ricotta, roasted tomatoes, roasted garlic, arugula, and finished with a balsamic reduction. Arguably one of the best bites I've ever had. Our son was adamant that he was not hungry, but I knew if I ordered spaghetti and meatballs he would want to share. I did request to have the spaghetti substituted for bucatini as it's a favorite pasta of mine. The sauce was rich in flavor, pasta cooked to perfection, and the meatballs were delicious and tender. My son ate over half of the dish despite not being hungry and not wanting anything lol. My husband ordered the Patata Suprema wood fired pizza. He said it is hands down the best pizza he's ever had. This pizza had potatoes, bacon, sausage, white sauce, parmesan, romano, and a rosemary calabrese oil. The crust was thin and crispy, yet held up well with the substantial toppings. We were so stuffed after dinner that we requested a piece of tiramisu to go. We enjoyed this later in the evening, and it was decadent! Needless to say we will be making repeat reservations to enjoy this place again!

    Cacio e Pepe (SO good!)
    Chelsea F.

    Love it here! Highly suggest a reservation as they tend to fill up fast. Not a huge space but food is delicious and reasonably priced. The bruschetta was delicious, as was the cacio e pepe and the chicken parm dish was very big and filling! For dessert, don't skip as the cannoli were excellent. Our waitress was incredibly knowledgeable and had great recommendations on both entrees and wine selections. Will go back whenever visiting Bloomington!

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    2 months ago

    Excellent food...salad and pizza are very sharable! Pleasant service! Highly recommend!

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    2 months ago

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    3 months ago

    The food was delicious! Had the ravioli and ate every bite. Loved this restaurant and will be back for sure!

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    2 years ago

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    7 months ago

    The eggplant dish was outstanding! Will be back for sure. Such a cute little place. Make reservations if possible.

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

    Oh my! The Cacio e Pepe was excellent! Nice small venue with a great little restaurant feel. Definitely will be back!

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    Osteria Rago - italian - Updated May 2026

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