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    Basso

    4.1 (925 reviews)
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Waitlist - Basso

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    Basso Photos

    BASSO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Loud
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Basso

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    Papardelle
    Areanna S.

    I thoroughly enjoyed how much this place was a cozy dungeon vibe. It smelled of fireplace and charred wood which was an immediate turn-on for vibes. + a review said to grab a reservation, so we did. Unsure how much we needed to for a Sunday night. Our server was very knowledgeable and gave us a breakdown of practically everything on the menu (we were as familiar with the place). Her explanations were done well. + I would have liked her to check in on us more. At first bite, and then a little later. She came back to check in when we were practically ready for dessert and determined we needed some condiments for our meals -- they were almost finished. The food looks really good and lacks an element of seasoning. We are big pasta people so we enjoy robust flavors and richness. While it wasn't lacking in richness, we needed something else to tie everything in. My Shrimp pasta was spicy (as we were told) but it seemed like the spice was intended to carry the dish. The shaved Parmesan was a nice touch but lacked again in flavor profile. It might've been an oversight but my noodles were on the harder side most of the time bites. The Papperdelle as the same.. they might be leaning on the nuance and forgetting to bring in more boldness with the flavors. The Lemon ricotta ravioli looks like it's a fan fave so I plan to go back and try that and maybe the spumoni sundae. 10/10 for the tiramisu!

    Pizza
    Natalie H.

    Loved our meal here! We sat at the bar since we got on the Yelp Waitlist a little too late for a table, but the bar service was great. We ordered some glasses of wine, a pasta entree, and a pizza. Ambiance is great for a date night! There's table options and plenty of bar seating. Plus you get to see the kitchen in action from your seat.

    Drea H.

    First time here and was impressed overall with the cozy dark vibe and espresso martini. The martini was 10 out of 10 a true classic espresso martini. We went with a larger group so we could not be seated at a normal table, we were placed in the lounge area with couches and a coffee table to eat our meal. I was thankful they were able to accommodate our group same day, but it would've been more relaxed and enjoyable if we were actually at a table. The food was underwhelming, we got the gnocchi and pepperoni pizza, our group got the lemon ravioli and the emo cover band pizza and cesar salad. Nobody raved about the food, and according to part of our group who'd be there before, this night was a miss... our server was very nice and dealt with a larger group well, it was just extremely slow so we were able to get in a lot of conversation. Overall, would be back, with smaller group so we could actually enjoy the restaurant vibe.

    Tiramisu
    Wanda H.

    Went again. It's STILL a five! Service was impeccable. Not so loud because we were in the back, in a booth. Tried new things from the menu, and loved ALL of it.

    mushrooms and duck egg pizze
    Katlyn M.

    Amazing spot for drinks, food, and atmosphere. Dark basement pub that feels modern and cozy. Our server was a gem -- always checking on us and giving great suggestions. Pizze was fired to perfection with ample toppings and sauce. Appetizers always on point. Definitely come for happy hour!

    Cute place setting at tables
    Shirley D.

    My husband discovered Basso's Happy Hour and couldn't wait to invite a group of friends. The $10 burger and fries is amazingly good. It is made with a higher grade of ground beef and garnished with giardeniera relish, fontina and crispy onions. Highly recommend. Others tried the meatballs and cannelloni dip. Then we decided to order desserts and share them around the table. Tiramisu, cannolis and the vanilla chiffon cake that has a coconut crème layers. Yum! The restaurant is located in the basement. Cozy and low lighting. Gas lanterns light the room. Service was great. We will be back for more of those burgers and fries!

    Brussels sprouts, roasted with walnuts and pomegranate!
    MaryAnn B.

    Went for Happy Hour on a Wednesday late afternoon. People were already waiting outside for the opening. The basement setting has an upscale quality to its casual vibe. The menu for happy hour is small. The burger is the attraction for that menu. The other choices are small plates, and some wine, beer and cocktails. Might not want to skip dessert, especially the tiramisu! Was looking forward to a Sangiovese wine choice which was on the website happy hour menu, but not offered once we got there. Place fills up quickly and gets happy and loud.

    vibe
    Thao N.

    Basso is always a go-to spot for a nice Italian dinner with that cozy, darker vibe. I usually end up here for my birthday or a friend's, and it never disappoints. The menu has something for everyone, which is great since a lot of my friends can be picky eaters. I highly recommend giving Basso a try at least once. It's consistently a good experience and one of my go-to spots in the city. I also can't forget about the service. For my birthday, we came in a little close to closing, but the staff was super kind and never made us feel rushed. They even helped bring out my cake and cut it up for everyone, which made the night feel extra special. Plus, the photos came out amazing Definitely recommend checking Basso out at least once--it's a safe bet for good food, good vibes, and a great experience.

    Bathroom
    Anna G.

    Have been wanting to come here for forever! Super glad I had the ability to come with a friend who was visiting from out of town. We got drinks, an appetizer, and two pastas! The service wasn't super quick but we were seated right away without a reservation on a Sunday night. Parking was easy to find too in the parking lot. It is in the basement and I'm not sure if they have an elevator. The food was all super good and the drinks were the best part. The dining room was a bit dark though.

    Ravioli
    Taquera W.

    I was really excited about Basso and a little let down by our evening. The space is cool, it's like an underground bar located next to the Starbucks , it's a little dark and the flame / candle holder near us was not working and unfortunately making a zapping sound right above us all night Our server was sweet and helpful and the food didn't take too long to come out once we ordered . We had the Carpaccio , truffle fries, lemon ricotta ravioli and Mafalada. The carpaccio was good overall, a little hard to eat how it was presented. Everything else just didn't come out hot. Our fries were cold and kinda tasted stale or old, we asked for hot fries and they brought out more and unfortunately they still didn't taste all that good, I wonder if they make their own fries? Our pasta was also not hot. It was made well, the sauce on both was good. The Mafalda had good flavor and the Ravioli was very lemony, but it was all too luke warm. A disappointing night....

    Basso Spritz
    Allison W.

    Wow, I can't believe it took me this long to eat here! We came at 4:30 on a Friday for happy hour and it was pleasantly busy. I walked right in, but they do have an option to add your name to the wait list. It was very dark, moody, and charming. Candles at each table and scones around! Note: you do have to take stairs to get downstairs where the restaurant is (I don't know if there is an elevator available). I got the burger and fries on the happy hour menu, my friend and I split the cannellini dip! She got the meatballs as her meal. We both enjoyed our food. We both got an espresso martini, and it was delicious. Our server was super nice as well. Everyone was kind and attentive. I would absolutely come back. I'm sure the rest of the food is also incredible! Definitely stop by for your next happy hour.

    Dartise J.

    Basso has an amazing atmosphere, amazing cocktails, and decent food. I was recommended to come to this place and I didn't disappoint, i subtracted 1 star for the food being a little salty

    Steak
    Kayla P.

    YUUUUM! 1st time here, came for a friend's birthday, and had the best time. We had the cutest & coziest lounge seating, the friendliest server Alec, and all around fantastic food and drink. Very pleased with the drink selection, and even more pleased with the appetizers offered. Delicious bread, roasted veggies, and small plates. The mushrooms on the steak I ordered were phenomenal.

    Truffle Fries, Roasted Cauliflower, Lemon Riccota Ravioli, Pepperoni Pizza

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    3 months ago

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    19 days ago

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    4 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The food and service were great! We went for a happy hour and the pricing options were good. Pizza was good

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    17 days ago

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    18 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Basso is always one of my favorite locals to go to. Great service , from the hosts to the servers. Diverse menu, and great food.

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    Page 1 of 24

    Basso Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Basso

    Is there a way of getting down to bar besides the stairs? Elevator?

    Yo my knowledge, it is only stairs

    What time do they stop serving food?

    9 if I'm not wrong. No hot food or Tapas after 9.

    Happy hour times?

    4-6 weekdays

    Does Basso allow people to bring their own wine? Do they have a corkage fee?

    Yes, $15

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    Charlie Gitto's On the Hill

    Charlie Gitto's On the Hill

    4.3
    (1.2k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    There aren't many restaurants that deserve a 5-star rating but Charlie Gitto's is one of them. We…read morestopped here 2 years ago on our way through St Louis on our way home from Colorado. It was my birthday and for 60+ years, my traditional b-day dinner has been rigatoni. My in-laws suggested Charlie Gitto's and it was fantastic. So, this year, we were again passing through St Louis on my birthday and I wanted to go back. I was hoping that it was as good as I remembered. I feared that I would be disappointed but I wasn't. It was as great as I remembered. I had their rigatoni with sausage, my wife had baked spaghetti with meatballs, my BIL had lasagna and my SIL had salmon. I also added a classic Ceasar salad. All of our entrees were excellent. The service is superb and definitely deserves a 5-star rating. Our waiter was excellent - he said he's been doing this for 18 years and was one of the best, most professional waiters I've ever met. Anthony, the manager, deserves special thanks for resolving an issue with where we were being seated. He was also the epitome of professionalism. Charlie Gitto's - despite me living in Ohio, you might become a new birthday tradition. Thanks.

    It's a classic place, very well appointed but not pretentious. Comfortable chairs with linen tables…read moreNot too noisy, easy to have a private conversation. Service was excellent and helpful. Although claiming to have invented the toasted ravs, really did not enjoy them. Caprese salad was good for this time of year- early June. My go to meal to rate Italian restaurants is chicken Marsala, and was unfortunately the worst. Chicken was overcooked, rather tasteless and hard to cut. Very little sauce, but good mushrooms. Side of red pasta helped but was too sweet.

    Photos
    Beautiful interior!
    Beautiful interior!
    Toasted Ravioli
    Toasted Ravioli
    Cappuccino

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    Cappuccino
    Anthonino's Taverna

    Anthonino's Taverna

    4.4
    (1.7k reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Clearly, with over a thousand reviews, Anthonino's is beloved in St Louis and beyond! I had to…read morecheck it out for myself. Reservations are a good idea due to its popularity. Parking is easy within a block or two. Outdoor, booth, and table seating is available. My husband had the gluten free pasta because it is also vegan, and no lie and true to form, it was delightful and light! The tomato sauce is Perfection: not too acidic, not too sweet, letting the grand yet humble tomato shine. I chose the puttanesca, one of my favorite traditional Italian pastas. I would order this again!! Had plenty for lunch the next day. Not to be left out: the toasted ravs and cannoli. I've had a few T-ravs since moving to StL, and these are excellent. The tomato sauce for dipping, once again, is a real treat. The cannolis? Precious, flaky, and dreamy. I ate one at our table and took the second bad boy home. FIRE.

    While traveling through Missouri, my wife and I were looking for a place to have dinner. I searched…read moreYelp and came across Anthonino's. I also remembered seeing it featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, so we figured it had to be worth a try. When we arrived, we were asked if we had a reservation. We didn't, but noticed a few open seats at the bar and asked if we could sit there instead. The two bartenders welcomed us right away and told us they would take good care of us throughout the evening. My wife ordered an iced tea, and I started with an Old Fashioned. For an appetizer, we ordered the Toasted Ravioli ($14), which is handmade in-house and filled with ground beef, ricotta, and pecorino romano cheese, served with marinara sauce. It's one of the dishes featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. For dinner, my wife ordered the Chicken Marsala ($23), and I went with the Bolognese ($17), made with veal, pork, red wine gravy, cresta di gallo pasta, stracciatella, and Calabrian chili oil. The toasted ravioli arrived looking great. I tried one without the sauce first. The fresh pasta didn't fry up quite the way I expected. It was more flaky than crispy, and I was hoping for a little more crunch. The filling was decent but could have used a bit more seasoning and flavor. The marinara sauce also had a bitterness to it that wasn't my favorite. When our entrées arrived, both dishes looked and smelled wonderful. Unfortunately, the flavors didn't quite live up to the presentation. My wife's Chicken Marsala had good flavor overall, but the side pasta was very gummy, and the sauce again had a bitter note that seemed to overpower the dish. My Bolognese was the biggest disappointment of the evening. When I think of Bolognese or a rich meat ragù, I usually expect a wider pasta such as pappardelle. The cresta di gallo pasta wasn't my favorite choice for the dish, and it also had a gummy texture. The sauce itself suffered from the same bitterness that we noticed throughout the meal. Looking back, I probably should have ordered the Carbonara once I realized the Bolognese wasn't being served with the type of pasta I was hoping for. Overall, the meal was okay, but it didn't quite meet the expectations we had after seeing the restaurant featured on television and reading the reviews. The service was excellent, and the bartenders did a fantastic job taking care of us. While this visit was a bit disappointing, there were plenty of other dishes on the menu that looked great, and I would be willing to give Anthonino's another try and order something different.

    Photos
    Part of the dining area
    Part of the dining area
    Toasted Ravioli
    Toasted Ravioli
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    Acero

    Acero

    4.4
    (384 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$

    Classic Italian food. Do the 4 course tasting. We did 3 of them and turned our dinner into a 12…read morecourse tasting menu by sharing everything. We had the crudo, Gnoccho fritto, smoked burrata, egg ravioli (GET THIS) , tagliolini, Cacio e Pepe, Barramundi, steak, lamb, chocolate lava tort, cheesecake, and Panna cotta. Corkage was a fair $30. Service was friendly. I liked that our server offered us an aerator or decanter for the wine that we brought; that was a nice touch. Ambiance was nice. I really liked the art on the walls, and they were quite affordable. Parking was a biiiiiiish to find. We risked it and used the Schlafly lot.

    Top restaurant in STL!! Every single detail is dialed in, from the warm, attentive staff to the…read morecozy, European style ambiance to the FOOD and beautiful plating. It is one of those places you walk into, settle in, and truly take your time, wine, dine, and enjoy the full experience. Executive Chef Nick P clearly knows what he is doing. His talent and experience come through in every dish. The menu feels thoughtful and intentional, simple in execution but elevated by incredibly fresh, seasonal ingredients, with flavors that build perfectly from one bite to the next. You can taste the care in everything, from the house made pasta to the sauces, proteins, and vegetables, all perfectly cooked and balanced. What also sets this place apart, though, is the people. The staff and servers are genuinely excited about the food, knowledgeable about the ingredients and wine, and add to the overall experience. It is the kind of place you leave already thinking about when you can come back.

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    Acero
    Crudo---- delicious
    Crudo---- delicious
    Chicken

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    Trattoria Marcella

    Trattoria Marcella

    4.4
    (594 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$$

    Have made a few trips to Trattoria Marcella now and it has been a great experience every time!…read moreFirst off, highly recommend making a reservation if you want a sure thing for dinner but they do have a pretty amazing happy hour in the bar that I believe is first come, first serve...and people do wait ahead of time to snag a spot at opening. Didn't snag a picture of the toasted ravs but so far, these have been my favorite one that I've tried in STL. There hasn't been anything I've ordered that I haven't liked. Be sure to listen to the specials as I have had some amazing fish dishes here! The lasagna is also amazing and a generous serving. To cap things off, you must try their tiramisu! So delicious!

    This was a little hidden gym for me to try out recently for dinner. You have to utilize street…read moreparking so that can be a little difficult to find depending on how busy it is. On the outside it looks smaller, but there's a lot of dining space inside the staff is very friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. They also have a small patio area for outside dining as it gets warmer outside. They have a wide variety on their drink menu and a large wine selection. They start your meal off with bread and hummus, which was pretty tasty. I got the rigatoni with shrimp and it was a pretty good dish. I think it could've used a little more seasoning, but overall it was a solid meal.

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    Trattoria Marcella
    Trattoria Marcella
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    Mama's On the Hill

    Mama's On the Hill

    3.9
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$$

    Make the reservation or wait until who knows! Get there early as parking is at a premium as this is…read morein a neighborhood. There is a very small bar but some nights they will not serve food there. It has a downstairs, a patio and the main dining room. Bathroom is off the bar area. We had reservations but were early as we knew parking was crazy. Met some great folks while waiting. Bartenders were fast putting drinks out and giving a little show while doing it. Started with the toasted ravioli as they claim 'they invented it. Got cheese and meat. The sauce that came with was so good we couldn't wait to get our food! I had the tortellini de papa with prosciutto and garlic cream sauce. So good! My husband enjoyed his pizza but remarked the pepperoni was a little salty. It was fine for me. Too full for dessert. This area will be a stop from now on when we visit!

    Ambiance (5/5): Super busy on a Sunday night but we managed to get a corner table. A little dark on…read morethe inside and on the noisier side. Service (4/5): It was a bit difficult to get service when they were so busy. The food came out relatively quick with no issues. The young waiter was very friendly. Toasted Ravioli (4/5): Glad we came and tried their famous homemade ravs. They had an exterior crunch with some meat on the inside. The marinara sauce went great with it. Chicken caprese salad (4/5): Added chicken to the salad and they did not skimp on the protein! I liked the vinaigrette that the salad came with. Penne a la Vodka (5/5): It was both rich and creamy. The flavors were on point and delicious all around. Found parking nearby with no problem.

    Photos
    Bar and dining area (lower level)
    Bar and dining area (lower level)
    Large sampler
    Large sampler
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    Zia's on The Hill

    Zia's on The Hill

    4.0
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    I can't believe I never reviewed this place! I loved Zia's 10 years ago and I love it still! I just…read morewent on 07/03 and had Katie the best server at the restaurant! You need to book a reservation for Friday and Saturday nights. We had ours for 7 pm and were seated promptly. Food we got Toasted Ravs's these are a STL staple and a must get. The sauce is on the sweeter side so be prepared. I got the Lasagna which came with a salad. The dressing is also on the sweeter side. I love that so it's a great salad and it's topped with provel cheese. The lasagna has provel, beef, sausage and ricotta. It's light on the ricotta which I love. They use the same sweet sauce for the toasted rav's. It's a huge portion! My friend got a chicken dish which came with bacon, broccoli, peppers, and had toasted bread crumbs. He loved it, however he said it did not have much chicken. We were so full we skipped dessert. Great meal. For two people it was about $100 so pretty reasonable. We also got alcohol so it would have been cheaper without wine and a mixed drink. Best Italian on the Hill in my opinion!

    We've been to "The Hill" in South City countless times, but we'd never tried Zia's. That changed a…read morecouple of days ago. Honestly? We've been missing out. The interior is nothing fancy, but it has that standard charm of The Hill. The service was excellent, we had Katie. She could have told us she went to WashU and majored in waitressing and we would have believed her. Prompt, professional but slightly personable. Good combo. The food was GREAT. We couldn't decide which was better, the Chicken Picatta or the Chicken Speidini. They were both super high quality poultry mixed with a rich and flavorful sauce, yum. Katie even let us make the side shells "pink", by mixing marinara and Alfredo for us. The only reason I'm subtracting a star is that our salads were a bit wilted -- my Mom kept running into some weird looking greens. Regardless, we'll be back.

    Photos
    Zia's on The Hill
    Tomato salad and toasted ravioli
    Tomato salad and toasted ravioli
    Filet in brandy cream sauce

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    Filet in brandy cream sauce
    Cunetto House of Pasta

    Cunetto House of Pasta

    3.8
    (487 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    After several years away, we decided to return to Cunetto House of Pasta, and I'm so glad we did…read more This was probably our fourth or fifth visit over the years, and the food reminded us why this restaurant has remained such a fixture on The Hill. We started with the toasted ravioli, and it may have been the best I've ever had. Crispy, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. Our party of four was thrilled with every entrée. I ordered a veal dish with a side of pasta, and it was absolutely outstanding. Everyone else ordered pasta dishes, and there was plenty of "oohing" and "ahhing" at the table with every bite. The portions are huge, so we're all looking forward to enjoying the leftovers. Service was friendly from start to finish. Our server was warm and attentive, although things moved a little slower than expected, and it took a while for our entrées to arrive. That said, once the food hit the table, it was clear the wait was worth it. The restaurant has a wonderful history and old-school charm, though the dining room could probably use a little refreshing. We also stopped at the bar before dinner, and unfortunately that was the biggest letdown of the evening. The presentation and flavor of our cocktails were surprisingly disappointing--they looked and tasted more like drinks from a budget hotel bar than from one of The Hill's iconic restaurants. Thankfully, the incredible meal more than made up for the cocktails. With so many outstanding Italian restaurants on The Hill, we've been fortunate to try many of them, and Cunetto House of Pasta has firmly earned a spot in our personal Top 3. We'll definitely be back.

    Memorable pre-St Louis Marathon pasta dinner at the legendary Cunetto's!…read more Great service made us feel right at home. Huge portions of delicious pasta! Delicious desserts to finish the night.

    Photos
    Cunetto's entrance
    Cunetto's entrance
    Tortellini Bianco, Pennine al Bolognese
    Tortellini Bianco, Pennine al Bolognese
    The bar

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    The bar
    Maggiano's Little Italy

    Maggiano's Little Italy

    3.7
    (612 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Everytime I come to Maggiano's it's a lovely time. Great location for an intimate dinner stop…read morebefore heading elsewhere for a date activity, but also great at hosting larger group outings. I just love the low stimulation and the intentionality of the layout. You're typically not straining to hear your dining partner, it's a very calm setting. In my experience the staff has always been attentive. Special shout out to the server who wasn't even assigned to me who brought an extra serving of bread as we were packing our boxes! The food is consistently great! I do miss the reduced price take-home frozen pastas, I hope to see them again soon. The only area Maggiano's doesn't wow me on is their cocktail selection, specifically their price points for what they serve, but otherwise I'd call Maggiano's a 4.75 / 5 so we'll round up.

    Went to Maggiano's Little Italy with a party of 10. We had reservations and showed up on time but…read moredidn't get seated until about 15 to 20 minutes later. It was really crowded so we understood, and they do have a bar area to wait which was nice. Service was pretty slow, but our server was helpful when we had questions. The food was good overall. My favorite was the Our Famous Rigatoni "D" with chicken and mushrooms. It had really good flavor, I just wish it came out hot instead of lukewarm. Overall, decent food but the experience itself wasn't the best.

    Photos
    Second level dining area
    Second level dining area
    16 oz. Bone-In Ribeye** Garlic Mashed Potatoes shirley temple   so yummy
    16 oz. Bone-In Ribeye** Garlic Mashed Potatoes shirley temple so yummy
    Spinach & Artichoke al Forno

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    Spinach & Artichoke al Forno

    Basso - bars - Updated July 2026

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