29 Best Italian Restaurants near Monona

“Love the deli for the Italian products!!! Cheeses, passatas, etc are fantastic!“

“We love Fratteli’s; have been several times. The restaurant industry is so hit or miss these days but Fratteli’s never disappoints! Tonight, we had the owner as our server (unknown until the end of our meal when we asked). He mentioned making the dessert himself! Banana bread pudding.. so yummy! Everything was fantastic! And both our entrees were completely homemade. Highly recommend!“

“Always amazing here. Food , atmosphere, staff, and great cocktails to boot.“

“Great experience…everything from the ambiance to the waitstaff to the drinks, appetizers, entree, desserts and coffee were amazing!“

“I've been going to Ginos for years! Best sandwiches in Madison! I'm just sorry they aren't open more! Love, love, LOVE them!!!“

“After 29 years of living near Madison, we finally went for dinner last night. Everything was delicious- mocktail, bruschetta, both pasta dishes (mushroom truffle & sausage rigatoni), as well as the light, fluffy desserts (butterscotch pudding & cheesecake with rhubarb/strawberry compote). Super happy our waiter, James, sent us home with an extra baguette & recommended making French toast - which we did today! We’ll be back with friends and recommending to others!“

“Y'all.…. this place is out of this world!! Everything from the wine, appetizers, entrée desserts and coffee are just phenomenal!! Do not pass this place up! I love the line of this chef… The way the music goes, that’s the we dance! And that’s exactly what this place is all about. Everyone loves this place! Tony Bennet and famous athletes from all over - including Reggie Bush!“

“We have been to Nonno's at least 4 times in the past few years! This restaurant is the absolute best Italian food our family has ever had. The service is top notch! Our son Sean loves going here and always orders the Chicken Alfredo with lots and lots of cheese. I always order Spaghetti Bolognese which never disappoints!! Thank you to our waiter and the staff for your wonderful hospitality and service.“

“I came with 5 other people and we ordered 4 appetizers, 9 entrees + a pizza to share amongst us and their was not a complaint about any of your dishes. We love your food, the atmosphere is wonderful, so I have nothing to say about improving your business, it’s perfect!! Well done!!“

“Greatest Pizza in the world.“

“Good food and nice place!“

“Two of their standard items can be made vegan - neither are vegan by default so just ask. Totally worth it, pick up some sourdough while you are there.“

“BEST PIZZA I have ever had! They have great burgers soup, salads, appetizers and pastas too. Definitely coming back.“

“Relaxing meal with fabulous food! Can't wait to go back.“

“Great pizza and nice ambiance as usual. What made our evening even better were the warm smile and friendly personality of our waitress Mel! She nicely engaged in joking conversation, went above and beyond to accommodate our special request, and frequently checked in to make sure we had everything we needed. Outstanding food and service — we’ll definitely be coming back!“

“I have become a regular ever sense I found this place ⁽⁽٩(๑˃̶͈̀ ᗨ ˂̶͈́)۶⁾⁾
They have big portions without being crazy expensive.
I got my food quickly, the waitress was very polite, the food was delicious and filling!
I like how it is a very peaceful old school dinner feel as well!
I will definitely come again!!
(I was to hungery and forget to take a picture but I had the country omelet this time)“

“We love bringing out of town friends to Sal's. We had the Valentine's menu and it was the best food we've had in years! Tameka was amazing and the food came out so quick. Clean plates all day!“

“We had the absolute honor of being one of Jasper’s first tables, he was such an incredible server! So attentive and so helpful! Our drinks never stayed empty, our soups and breadsticks were refreshed so quickly, and our food came out so fast. On top of that, all of the food was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be coming back!“

“Great service and great food! I highly recommend this restaurant for the great dining experience!“

“My granddaughter and I was touring downtown Madison about two weeks ago, we came across D’Vino as we walked. The special for the day was crab cake and green fried tomatoes, of course we went in to order. The food was amazing. My granddaughter love the atmosphere of the restaurant and so did I .She order a pizza that was the best she ever had. The food was so good, even the water was great. We will be back!“

“We were absolutely blown away by our meal tonight! Our waitress, Julie, was the sweetest and most attentive person you could ever ask for. She immediately made us smile and laugh. The flavors in everything we tried were exceptional! The housemade hummus was absolutely delicious, we wanted to lick the plate clean. The lentil soup was superb. We got the (huge) entrees of kebabs and shawarma. The tumeric rice was incredibly flavorful, the garnishes were even a pleasant surprise, the meats were all seasoned differently and were all phenomenal. Everything was amazing. We will be back soon!“

“Simple stated, Incredible“

“the chicken dinners in the tiramisu“

“Great steak, even better lobster mac & cheese, which was so delightful after a long day. But I’m telling you whatever you do… Do not let them talk you into getting the A2 steak sauce. They convinced me A2 was better than A1 sauce, it’s not, and then they charged me for it. Beware.“

“I’m so thankful I discovered Zoe’s! It’s like having Ian’s pizza but with way better crust. 🤣❤️ I get my nails done in Waunakee and my nail girl told me about this place. Bet I come here every time I get my nails done! Today I had their special - chorizo - and when I say it was BOMB I mean it!!! This pizza is so dang good, and every flavor I try has been consistently delicious. 🍕 😍 lunch prices are amazing too! I highly recommend giving this place a try even just for a slice.“

“Bunky’s is simply amazing! They catered our wedding 12 years ago. Authentic Mediterranean food, expertly prepared, with superb customer service... highly recommend!“

“I have always liked pizza from Rocky's. Even more so that you can get a slice quickly, eat it and get back to what you were doing. The breadsticks also are very good so as far as a quick pizza place this does a good job.

The staff member that we encountered was not super friendly and did seem as if she would have rather have no one show up.

Overall the food was good and we needed something quick. This was both of those things.“

“If you’re in the Monona area or nearby cities and craving pizza, Rocky Rococo absolutely delivers 🔥🍕
From the moment you walk in, the vibe is welcoming and friendly, and the staff go out of their way to make you feel taken care of. The pizza? Next level. Perfectly thick, buttery crust with just the right amount of crisp, loaded with fresh toppings and rich, flavorful sauce. Every bite tastes like it was made with care.
The slices are huge, the ingredients taste fresh, and everything comes out hot and fast—exactly what you want when you’re hungry. Whether you’re grabbing a quick lunch or feeding a group, this place hits every time.
Honestly one of the best spots in the area for comfort food done right. Highly recommend if you want consistently great pizza and friendly service. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“We came in on a Monday night in the summer. We have been coming here a lot recently. We love the food! Pizza is great, salads and meatballs too! Our table tonight was two young kids and two adults. Most people wouldn't want our table. Servers don't like kids. I assume that means low bill and low tip. However, my husband and I have worked in the restaurant business for a long time! We know how to tip and never order off the kids menu. We were told our server Lydia would be with us shortly. However she never came by. I had to ask for service after we came in to eat and we're very hungry. It was my daughter's birthday and they just got done with Ju Jitsu practice. My daughter told me she was starving. I know! She never came to the table. We were ignored for a while and told to order at the counter. There were open tables and not too many people in the restaurant. Thank you to the shift manager who finally helped us. We also asked Lydia to help with our check at the end and she told us she couldn't help us. She was so rude! Thanks Lydia. If you go on a weekday you might not even get service unless you ask. We'll be back to eat the food and hope we don't ever get Lydia. She was only serving two tables and both were finished before we got our food. She was not that busy but decided she didn't want to serve us.“