We have been going to this restaurant for years for the ambiance, the food was very mediocre but the lake view is magnificent. And the miracle happened! Today's dinner was outstanding! Our server suggested to start with garlic focaccia bread served with tomato sauce and it was amazing! My sea bass with lemon beurre blanc was perfectly cooked, it had a marvelous texture and perfectly balanced sauce ! My husband's seafood diavolo was served with an amazing sauce which indicated a presence of the skilled chef in the kitchen! We finished our delicious dinner with a delicious desserts: my limoncello gelato was mouthwatering, my husband's chocolate gelato was A+! Our server was nice, competent and very efficient! As we learned from him, now the kitchen has a totally new crew! Well, we noticed and we loved the cooking ! Bravo! Cannot wait to be back ! read more

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Calamari was delicious as an app Loved their salmon pomo Fresca Server Henry was outstanding - truly! He was awesome and truly made the experience. Really knows the menu and offered OUTSTANDING recommendations. Ambiance beautiful inside and cute patio that could be kept casual or dress up. We would go back. read more

Wow, what a place! I enjoyed the best dinner there tonight. Service was exceptional, food was outstanding (great gluten free options) and ambiance was very warm and relaxing. Pork chop with pear sauce is not to be missed. Ask for Tanya and you won't be disappointed. 5 stars! read more

Wonderful service from the host to our amazing server (Henry) we had an absolute amazing time! He has such great suggestions and offered honest opinions about which plates to select and how to modify them to make them that much better! My wife and I shared a the calamari and then had the Pasta ALESANDRIA and the salmon. Both of us cleaned our plates! We sat outside with spectacular view of the lake and the sunset. Such a great experience. Highly recommend and will be back every time we visit Lake Geneva read more

Cafe Calamari - Sunset in Dock near restaurant. - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

We were lucky to grab a cute table inside on this popping Saturday. Our service was great and quick. The complementary bread is a nice bonus too. I loved the menus with the pictures. My signature margarita to start was delicious as well. We got the arancini for an appetizer, and this was tasty and flavorful and a good portion to share. We also shared the crab stuffed salmon special, and this was delicious. I also got a side salad with the ceasar dressing. My espresso martini was a tasty treat at the end of the meal. This was one of the better ones I've had as well! Overall this was a nice impromptu date night and looking forward to dining at the bar or patio next time! read more

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We finally made it to Cafe calamari after talking about it for a year! Why did we wait?!? The food was ON POINT! The calamari was the best I've had around the Lake Geneva area. The lobster bisque soup was so yummy! We ordered steak and it was done to perfection! The temp and flavor were awesome. The service was great! Cindy has great customer service and she was fun to chat with. The atmosphere was welcoming and not too loud; we could still have a conversation at our table without having to yell. There was one customer who was vaping in the restaurant near us which we weren't too happy with but otherwise it was a great experience and we will return! We will be requesting Cindy. read more

We love to dine at Cafe Calamari whenever we are in the Lake Geneva area. My brother recommended this place several years ago and we always drop in for dinner when we stay at The Lazy Cloud Bed and Breakfast. "After a cold winter's night" (it was 50 degrees last night), we had a 6 pm reservation. When we entered the hostess greeted us, wished me happy birthday, and sat us in the adjacent dining room in front of floor to ceiling windows with a spectacular view of the lake and exterior Christmas decorations. The dining room was cozy, dimly lit, and tastefully displayed two beautiful Christmas trees. The table was adorned with candles. The candle holders were filled with coffee beans and gave off an aromatic scent that was pleasant. The hostess gave us our menus. At first I was surprised then delighted by the new digital format The menus were encased in tan leather cases and easy to use. Each item displayed a colorful picture of the dishes to consider. Nicely done! We opted to start with beer instead of wine. I ordered the Spotted Cow and my wife ordered a Peroni. The waitress returned to take our order. We started with the Bruschetta, lobster bisque soup, and an Italian salad. The bruschetta is five pieces of grilled bread topped with Roma tomatoes, red onions, garlic, basil, parmesan and red pepper flakes. You can never go wrong ordering this flavorful side. The tomatoes were ripe, crisp and complimented generously with shredded cheese on toasted bread. Perfection on a plate. Next the server brought us the lobster bisque soup. Their menu states it's "our famous bisque prepared daily with fresh lobster". Take them at their word. This is one of the best soups I've had the pleasure of tasting. The soup was hot and loaded with an ample portion of lobster bits. Outstanding! The Italian Salad was the topper to an already great start to our meal. It was loaded with Romaine Lettuce, Slivered Red Onions, Soppressata Salami, Kalamata Olives, Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, and Pepperoncini's with House Italian Dressing The waitress checked on us several times and asked how everything was and to our liking. Yes! Home run on the appetizers. After taking a deep breath we ordered our entrees. I ordered the Piccata with White wine, lemon, and capers, finished with sweet butter. Served with Garlic Mashed Potato and Asparagus. Loved it. My wife ordered the traditional bolognese sauce with angel hair pasta. It was good, not great. It lacked heat from a lack of seasoning. For dessert I ordered the chocolate chip gelato. It was sprinkled with semi sweet chocolate chips and a thick bottom layer of dark chocolate on the bottom of the glass. The waitress also brought a piece of tiramisu with a candle for my birthday. Overall, this was another outstanding meal. Aside, from the bolognese sauce. Thanks for an another wonderful meal and birthday memory. "At the table, one does not grow old" just a tad bit wider. read more

Went here for a birthday celebration and it was fantastic! Service was phenomenal-everyone was so welcoming and friendly. Love the low lighting and overall vibe of this place! Lobster bisque soup was great and the entrees were fantastic-one had ribs, one had pasta with shrimp and scallops and one was pasta with peppers, Italian sausage and mushrooms. Everything was great and server even brought a delicious tiramisu for bday dessert! 10/10 recommend! read more

Cafe Calamari - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

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A wonderful place to stop in and enjoy a Saturday evening dinner. Its low light and villa decor are charming. We started with the calamari and arancini. Great appetizers the calamari was good not chewy or overcooked. The sauce for the arancini was very flavorful. We got Alfredo with scallops. The scallops were so buttery and soft. The veal was okay, but the side of mash potatoes was better. Our server Alisa was very attentive and helpful checked on us regularly. Would visit again if we're in the area. read more

Cafe Calamari - Veal Picatta - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

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WOW! We picked this place to celebrate our first anniversary because they had raw oysters. We started with two drinks which were very tasty. One of the best espresso martinis I've ever had (I've tried a lot). The bread was fresh hot and soft. The oysters were delicious but had a little grit in a few. Would've loved a shallot oil instead of the cocktail sauce but personal preference! Lobster bisque was to die for. Pomegranate salad was incredible with the feta. Moving on to the main entrees, they were cooked absolutely to perfection. So glad I got to try my first beef Wellington here. The pastry was not at all soggy and the beef was like butter. The scallops were not over cooked and the pasta was delicious. Our server was so amazing in helping make this a memorable celebration. Even gave us a tiramisu free to celebrate. We could only take a few bites we were so full! Fiancé said it was the best dessert he's ever had. He definitely made our experience better if the food wasn't enough! The restaurant is a cute cozy place with low lighting. Exactly what we were looking for. I bet in summer it's beautiful too! Can't wait to come back and try more dishes :) read more

Cafe Calamari - Espresso Martini - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

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I am writing to share my family's recent disappointing experience while dining at your Williams Bay location on Friday, July 11th. After we ordered our main entrées, our server, Tanya H, immediately followed each order with "Soup or salad?" Naturally, we assumed this was included with the entrée, as is standard practice at many fine dining establishments. However, when we received our bill, we were surprised to see that we had been charged nearly $45 extra for these items--without any advance notice that they were an additional cost. I have both dined and worked in fine dining for many years of my hospitality career, and I have never been trained--nor trained others --to handle guests this way. This tactic felt intentionally misleading and left us feeling taken advantage of. Unfortunately, we paid the bill without causing a fuss, as we live in Lake Geneva and care about supporting local businesses like yours. But this left a very negative impression on us. We also feel compelled to share this so that other diners--especially older guests who might not think to question such a routine follow-up--don't end up paying for add-ons they didn't knowingly agree to. We would like to know: Is this "soup or salad" upsell without disclosure part of your official service protocol, or was our server, Tanya H, acting on her own to increase the bill in this way? Dining out should be a pleasant experience--guests should not feel they must constantly ask "Is this included?" to avoid surprise charges. We hope you take this feedback seriously and address this issue with your team to ensure future guests are treated honestly and transparently. read more

Food was amazing!! Server, Mike, was attentive and made wonderful suggestions. You can tell that Mike really enjoys his job and interacts so well with his customers. I would highly recommend this place for the ambiance, service and incredible meal! read more

Had the chicken shish kebab. Rice was really good and the chicken was cooked to perfection

We were visiting from Chicago for a wedding in nearby town. We found this restaurant seeing it had good reviews, so we came in for a walk-in dinner. The food was satisfactory. We shared the Caprese Salad, which was fresh and light. The Chicken & Shrimp Gamberetti and Mushroom Medley Diavolo tasted homemade. Both were flavorful and saucy without being overly wet/soggy. This was a good find for the area! The service was just okay, but the restaurant was busy, so we assumed the server just had too many tables. read more

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This place was not what I anticipated. Calamari was good but all the food was semi cold when it came out except the bread. I absolutely hate when a restaurant doesn't tell you that a soda refill is not free for fountain soda. Waitress was nice and very on top of things but definitely not going back as the food did not impress. Also, lady next to me was sitting with her shoes off and her toes on the chair which was a disgusting site. read more

Mediocre food at best and way overpriced. Sad to say, but Olive has this place beat by a mile. Your paying for the location and view. Over $150 for a bottle of wine, 4 entrees and Fried Calamari, is ridiculous for this spot. Spaghetti and meatball costs over $20. Their Alfredo sauce is so think and bland, that you can't even taste the rest of the entree. The Fried Calamari was from a frozen bag, which is not what I'm expecting from a place called Cafe Calamari. I had the Chicken Parm, which was a big piece of chicken, but barely any breading and very flavorless. We came here thinking we were going to enjoy some high quality Italian food. We all ended up leaving very disappointed and unsatisfied. The service was also a struggle. As soon as we walked in we can tell the front desk was overwhelmed. That continued to the service and the table. I understand it's hard to get staffing right now, but it should have been way more organized. We were also surprised to see a lot of the staff that was caring the food outside and tending to the tables outside. All vaping and they were in the back between their duties of getting the table bread, water and going in and out of the kitchen. We were looking for a new spot for when we come up to the area. Unfortunately this was not it and we will not come back. read more

Cafe Calamari - Chicken Parmesan- very little flavor - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Visiting in town, checked the reviews, seemed okay. Was nervous when they handed me an electronic tablet that held the menu. When the bread came out I knew I had made a big mistake. This place is at best upscale fast casual dining. Think glorified chain restaurant. Yes the staff smiled, but service lacking. Food was very basic, meat overcooked. Honestly perplexed about the good reviews. This was not the case of me having a bad one off experience. I've never been to Olive Garden but I imagine it would be something like this place. read more

Not worth the money. Arancini was cold, the calamari was rubber, and the pasta was well over cooked and lacked flavor.

Such a great place so for a date night or special occasion meal. We were in town visiting family and they took us here for our wedding anniversary. We started with Old Fashioned cocktails, which they made perfectly, and we shared an order of calamari which was so fresh & tender, and cooked perfectly crispy with the breading. Everyone raved about their entrées, too; I had the pork chop, two others had the chicken Parmesan, and I believe our other family member had salmon. I had to stop myself from cleaning my plate because it was so delicious, but I was stuffed, and most of us took leftovers home. Our server was fantastic as well, and I regret I have forgotten his name. We really liked the decor and vibe of the place, with a romantic feel to it at night with the candles on the tables and the view of the lake across the street. read more

We enjoyed our outdoor dining experience here. Food and service was excellent and we will definitely be back!

We have eaten here many times. Wonder what changed. Our meals were very mediocre. I had the Diavalo. 2 of my mussels were not oppen which everyone knows means they were bad. They never should have been served to me. Wonder about the freshness of the rest of the seafood? Also when you order a meal and the waitress says "soup or salad?" It means that it is included! Others have commented about this and I had to pay 10 dollars for a salad I did not really want. Very nice server. I would stay away until they get this figured out. read more

Great service, food was delicious, great atmosphere!! Tony our server was phenomenal!! Definitely going back! read more

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Best prime rib I have ever had. I would give them a 5 stars but their side options are not great. They should at least offer french fries. read more

Cafe Calamari - Prime Rib Friday - Sicilian Encrusted Prime Rib - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Visiting my cousin's lake house in Lake Geneva, they recommended this restaurant for good Italian food. They start out serving warm bread to dip in olive oil with Parmesan cheese. We ordered the namesake calamari which was very flavorful, not too chewy and the cocktail sauce was tasty. For entrees we ordered a chicken piccata which was quite different than what we expected with a more cream base rather than olive oil and lemon and served with garlic mashed potatoes, not pasta. It was tasty but not what we expected. I love, loved the mushroom pasta, a little spicy being a diavlo sauce but infused with fennel which is an interesting, unique flavor. I did not try the pork chop but the others said it was tasty. We split the spumoni bomb dessert, apparently from Italy, Italian specialty ice cream covered with chocolate, to die for! Service was a bit slow with my cousin having to ask for more Diet Coke several times. They were quite busy so somewhat understandable but never did fill my water. Cute outdoor dining that looked out on the lake across the street. I'd return. read more

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This is the second time that we have been to this restaurant and both times have been phenomenal. Incredibly tender steaks, perfectly cooked calamari, and the cherry gelato was a beautiful ending to the evening. Service was outstanding both times. Highly recommend. read more

Delicious food! Reasonable prices. Good service. Great view of Lake Geneva. Love the outdoor patio. read more

Cafe Calamari - Outdoor. - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

So disappointing! Every time I visit Lake Geneva, I come to Cafe Calamari for dinner. It has gone downhill so much. I couldn't believe the change. A positive was the wait staff. They were attentive, friendly and provided good service. Everything else was not so good. We ordered the sautéed calamari for an appetizer along with a caprese salad. I appreciated that there was an alternative to a fried preparation. The calamari m, however, was rubbery and slimy. We sent that back after 3 of us spat out what we put in our mouths. The caprese was just grape tomatoes and mozzarella balls that I can buy at the grocery store overdressed with balsamic vinegar. Nothing special. The veal piccata my friend had was enjoyed, but the two salmon dishes and mushroom chicken dish were not enjoyed. We were told the salmon was wild. Nope. It didn't have the deep rich color as other prepared wild salmon dishes. All around just a "meh" dining experience. What happened to you Cafe Calamari?? read more

Bad service, bad food only good thing was the wine. Our reservation of 6 people and we were seated at a table for 4! Unpleasant waitress who openenly scolded a bus boy, very unprofessional. Took one meal to go, and to find a piece of glass in my food- Overrated and way overpriced read more

We have enjoyed this restaurant many times during the summer but when we dined here in January, it was the opposite. The salads were very heavily dressed and I could only get through half of it. We both ordered the Sicilian filets and found them dry and tasting a little old or sour. The mashed potatoes were heavily salted, too. I will say that the service was wonderful. We're hoping that there's a different chef in the summertime and will come back and try it again then. read more

My previous review was all the way back in 2009. My wife and I have continued to go here 4-6 times a year I'd guess on average. Tonight is the first time we left and agreed that we weren't thrilled with the experience. In the no-biggie department - I'll mention that my wife tried to order a chocolate martini and a cucumber collins but our server knew off the top of her head they were out of a few ingredients and so she suggested an espresso martini - it was great but I mention it only as someone in the bar area missed an order at the height of the busy summer season. My wife had Pasta Alessandria and it sounded delicious to her. Unfortunately, even though she likes hot, spicey foods - this came out too hot and spicy for even her tastes. She asked the server about it and she said "It does have a "bite" to it but nowhere in the menu description does it mention this. I usually order the salmon over a bed of pasta with a delicious sauce and I did this time as well but was disappointed that it - and every single seafood dish on the menu - came standard with what to me was a horrible concoction of rice, brussel sprouts and finely chopped vegetables that I did not like at all - I had no interest in having more than the tiniest of samples - which cemented my visual guess at its taste. When ordering I asked if the salmon was available with the pasta as it used to be and she informed me I could have mashed potatoes or pasta but it would be an additional charge. I can't imagine who approved replacing the pasta or mashed potatoes with the terrible side I had. I urge the owners to reconsider that change - I can't imagine a good review for that dish. It's that bad! We had a nice desert and overall enjoyed our meal but the total came to just under $90 so with a nice tip and the 3% credit card surcharge it was about $115 for the two of us. read more

Cafe Calamari - The side dish that comes with every seafood entree. I did not like it - at all. - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

We decided to try this restaurant because of its close (+/- 1.0 mile) proximity to the Belfry Music Theater and we were going to a show that evening. What a pleasant surprise. It's located across the street from Lake Geneva. We chose to eat in the bar area which has a different slightly less expensive menu than the fine dining area. We weren't disappointed with our choice. We both had the broasted chicken and it was tender and juicy on the inside and nice and crispy outside. I opted to have a pasta side dish with my entree. It also was very good. Server Tanya was menu knowledgeable and attentive. 4 stars instead of 5 because the online menu is nearly impossible to navigate, at least it was for me. read more

We have dinner here often and enjoy the comfortable atmosphere and big booths. The food is usually pretty good. The service is always great.

The food and service is outstanding. Highly recommended! Great location with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Made a Valentine's Day reservation here. My husband and i had a waterfront view. Service was nice, calamari very good appetizer, entrees were good and staff efficient. Def will return and get the same table as the waterfront was nice.e read more

Nice portions, great views. Staff was a little sparse, but it's the end of the tourist season, so that's to be expected. This place has a coziness to it, and we think it will be a regular on our restaurant choice list! read more

Great Christmas family dinner. Atmosphere was great and with three granddaughters under three they made us feel welcome. Great steaks, seafood and itallian dishes. My family will be back read more

Excellent meatloaf. It tastes as good as a steak. Service is always good. The Ambience is great. Low amber lights. The service is very good! read more

I can't make up my mind about this place. The view when sitting outside is awesome. No question the 5 star review. Food is eh. Keep in mind everything is ala Carte. Started with the "white ribs" sounded so unique we had to try it. Although they had a good flavor. ( not great) they were $17.00 for a 1/2 slab of ribs. I know odd appetizer that we will not order again. Lobster bisque was very good at $11.50 kind of the best thing of the night. My son got the salad as I heard the dressing was amazing. We split the soup and salad. When I got the salad I was like is there any dressing? Not a drop on the plate. I asked the waitress did they forget it? and she said. Oh I see it. Really. There was a drop on the pecan. Beyond ridiculous to be so stingy with salad dressing. Pointless. No changes on entrees allowed. My son got the pork chop. He says it was good not great. Wanted veggies no potatoes. They would not swap. Xtra $6.00 for broccoli. He asked for a little sauce for the broccoli. $1.50 charge. No mention of that. I had chicken and shrimp bow tie pasta sauce had great flavor. Chicken was totally dried shrimp was ok. 2nd time we came here and have been underwhelmed each time. Sangria was good. Maybe you need to be educated on what to order so you are not nickel and dimed to death $114 bill for two people in LG. Better options. If you ask me. read more

Over rated. The food was just OK and I was expecting excellent. My teen Agee's and I were disappointed. read more

Have been coming here for over 5 years. The food and service is always on point. The ambience is what it should be for a lakeside Italian restaurant. Had a wedding rehearsal dinner here a few days ago. Our waitress, Tonya, was awesome. Professional, friendly, attentive, patient. Will be coming back here for years to come. read more