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

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

Local Summer dinner tonight and the food and service were great ! Veal Picatta was great.

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 always enjoy dinner here. Service was excellent, even though the restaurant was extremely busy. Food was great. We had house salads, salmon, sea bass, and sauted calamari. I love that they are able to accommodate my allergy, making me feel comfortable. The bar was very busy, and you can tell that many people frequent here to enjoy drinks. Highly recommend! read more

I'm not sure why Cafe Calamari only has 3.5 stars. It's a misrepresentation of how good it really is. I spent the weekend in the area and a friend recommended this as an option. It was a great way to treat myself. The staff was upbeat, kind, and attentive. The wine list and food are both very good. It's a perfect way to end a day by the lake. read more

Cafe Calamari - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Kick ass staff- awesome service- honest drinks- and the food no comparison! The spot to stop in Williams Bay? read more

Cafe Calamari - Lake trout - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Cafe Calamari is an Italian restaurant with a view of Williams Bay. They have a variety of high-end appetizers ranging from various antipastos to Oysters Rockefeller. They have a few salads to choose from. Then a wide variety of entrees, various seafood choices (types of fish and scallops), various pastas with choices of meats or shrimp you can add in, a few meat choices with potential sauces (the filet was expensive but great). All are good-sized; you won't go away hungry. Prices are high for appetizers; moderate for dinner (we were in the low $20s for all entrees except the filet). There were about 8 dessert choices! The atmosphere is noisy; 3 rooms - 1 is the bar area with some tables; then 2 separate dining rooms. The place was full when we went. Needed reservations. Clearly a popular place. read more

You go for the view... Polenta appetizer was outstanding. Salad which was included was fine. GF chicken parmesan was forgettable. Blah sauce. My dining companions had similar entree experiences. As my 21 year old daughter said - this is what I was expecting. We didn't come for the food.... Great view, beautiful night and an overworked waitress. When we come back, it will always be for the view... The concensus was that Olive Garden has better food read more

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Let me start with the positives: Good service Nice ambience Cons: Bad, bland food Expensive for no reason They gave me dead mussels, had I been a novice and eaten them I would have been extremely sick I would not recommend here read more

I really don't know how this place is only rated 3.5 stars?! Since this place was recommended to me by a local a couple of years ago I come by at least once for a meal when I travel to the area for work, granted it's only about 2 times a year. I'm usually here in the colder months and it's never hustlin' & bustlin' like how I hear it gets during the summer so this place is always pretty empty and I never need reservations. I could see the food being on the pricier side, but I've never been disappointed with my orders. The lemon sorbet I had on my last trip was sooo good too. It was bursting with lemon flavor and had just the right amount of tartness. This will still be a go-to spot for me once I'm allowed to start traveling again! read more

Cafe Calamari - Tortellini - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

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Is it impolite to lick the bowl? Lobster Bisque was amazing!! I can't wait for the tortellini. This p lol ace is hopping and the destination for Williams Bay. read more

Cafe Calamari - Was lobster bisque!! - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Cocktails and 1 out of 2 of our deserts were 4 or 5 stars, everything was 2 star at best. Service was ordinary to be kind. I'm tired of restaurants touting PEI mussels as if that is the key. CC's mussels were not fresh, evidenced by their stringy texture & flat flavor and the bland broth can best be described as milk with a little butter in it. The entre's were of Golden Corral grade. My wife's chicken piccata was way overdone on the lemon side and my penne con broccoli was bland. They also seemed to push volume over quality but we weren't looking for a Cheesecake Factory experience. Cafe C is obviously a tourist go to place but if you are looking for fine dining, keep looking because this ain't it. Illinois Cheesehead read more

The view on the patio is beautiful but the food is average at best. I ordered a chicken dish that had a nice lemon and caper sauce but the chicken itself consisted of one low quality chicken breast with skin on it. The meat itself tasted cheap and chewy. It came with mashed potatoes that were good. I really wanted to like the restaurant because of the great view but there are much better options in the area. read more

We went with a large group, they were very accommodating the evening before to get us reservations for sat night. Food was good, minus a couple bad muscles! Servers were very good with the grandchildren and our extra requests! Some items are a little pricey but we knew that before we went so the bill wasn't as shocking as it could've been! Nice place for a special occasion!! We all enjoyed ourselves! read more

Overview - Classy dining venue that will make your Williams Bay experience complete. Food (4.5/5) Customer Service (4/5) We enjoyed the build your own pasta dishes, one CHICKEN ALFREDO (4/5) and the other BOLOGNESE W/ MEATBALL & SAUSAGE COMBINATION (4.5/5). Both were very good and a lot of food. I preferred the bolognese dish more which is not usually how I lean, but the sauce was more flavorful and hearty. The blackened chicken on the Alfredo was a little to black and dry, thus making the bolognese a tastier option for me. The HOUSE SALAD (5/5) that is included with the meal was sweet and impressive! The house made dressing was very good and complimented the raisins and nuts in the salad perfectly. The premeal bread is also outstanding. It's soft, doughy, and perfect for dipping in the oil/parmesan cheese combo. This is a very popular place, at least during summer, and I understand why! A reservation is highly recommended because people want to eat here! A good mantra for anyone in charge anywhere is to always try to say yes to customers. We had a couple of weird ordering and check responses from our server because they weren't originally willing to adjust from the norm, like splitting checks or giving fresh veggies instead of pasta. But it worked out and our server who had been on staff for a few years was very pleasant and got things to us correctly. read more

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GREAT FOOD HERE!!! We have been coming here for many years. Everything on the menu is prepared with years of experience, so its always terrific. Rachel was able to explain to us the difference's in different pasta entree's & sauces. BIG HELP. We really enjoyed sitting out on the patio, great view of the Lake. read more

If you're looking for a great view and wonderful atmosphere, you found the right place. If you want quality Italian food, keep driving. The food is subpar at best. For those reviews raving about how good the food is, you probably like Olive Garden too. This is not good Italian food, not even close. I could get into details, but I won't. Just go for the view and the ambiance, don't expect anything else. read more

I love this place Tammy was the BEST server I've ever had! She was there at every moment of need my NYE was MADE BY HER! Excellent service!!! She needs a raise FOR-SURE read more

Well It was a celebration of my friend's birthday and he during the pandemic and looting of Chicago he did NOT want to eat in Chicago because of all the restrictions as well as in the state of Illinois. His family asked me any suggestions and I remember he treated me to a Xmas Eve Dinner 3 years ago here. The food was a phenomenon. The ambiance is so unusually normal with NO requirement to eat outside and NO mask!. I was shocked for the better since I was tired of this shutdown. Anyways this is my 2nd time dining here out of my friend's relatives suggestion and they took my advice. The Calamari is still on the point. Delicious. My friend also ordered Oyster's Rockefeller which was also out of this world tasty. His sister's fiance wanted Brucietta as an antipasti or appetizer and it too was fresh and divine with the taste of fresh tomatoes and cilantro. I ordered as a side and main dish the Cesar Salad which had the right taste for salad dressing as garnish and garlic bread and the traditional sea bass with braised broccoli. Yummy when I tasted. my party ordered pasta dishes which I did not have pictures and my friend ordered a 8 oz filet mignon steak which was not pictured. As for deserts I ordered a Double Fudge triple chocolate cake which was Marvelously sweet. My friend had the Cheesecake and his 2 family members ordered a parfait and a chocolate chip gelatto which they enjoyed. The cosmopolitan mix drink was "So so" OK. That is why 4 out of 5 stars because of the limited selection of Alcoholic Beverages and I usually go for Amaretto Sour mixed drink on the rocks which they DID NOT have. Do come here. It is great Italian Inspired and Cape Cod scenery yet in the Midwest of Wisconsin. Beautiful in the summer and the view too versus the winter when I 1st came. read more

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Extremely disappointed..... Our waiter was really good at not being around or busy talking to the hostess..... when we were served our bread we had to ask for olive oil..... we were just given plain bread and he walked away.... it was not busy at all yet it took 25 minutes to get our salad... As for the food.... salad was good.. Carbonara pasta tasteless!!! I've had better tasting ramen noodles.... Boneless ribs over mashed potatoes....again tasteless....TASTELESS!!!! First and last time going there....it's amazing how bland the food tasted... Bad experience!! read more

Food is amazing and service was great. I recommend making a reservation as they are extremely busy.

Amazing! Cafe Calamari is one of our favorite places to eat when we are in town so it seemed like the perfect place for out wedding rehearsal...we were not wrong! From the very beginning of the planning process I was put at ease with their flexibility and quick responses. The night of our rehearsal was perfect! Tanya our server was wonderful...so thoughtful and patient with our big (and sometimes loud) group! We had a group of 20 and ordered off the menu. I was nervous about timing but the food came quickly and was hot! Everyone raved about how good their meal was and my sister even said she would drive the 90 minutes from Chicago just to get more of that prime rib! Thank you to the staff for making our rehearsal a special moment! We cannot wait to return! read more

Great view of Williams Bay activity. Both indoor and outdoors eating areas. Love the linens indoor. Great wait staff.

We walked in, saw no staff was required to wear masks l, and left. So we went down the street and gave our business to another restaurant.

Have come here a few times during visits to the area. In the past, food was marginal. This visit, with the exception of the quality filet, the food was edible but poor. We dine out frequently and recognize quality restaurant food. The meatballs may have been frozen and warmed in a microwave. The sauce of the seafood diavolo was more like spicy tomato soup than pasta sauce. The mussels in the dish were ok but the shrimp and calamari were overdone. The fettuccini was over boiled. The bread was decent as was the oily fried calamari. The bottle of red wine was about 75 degrees and had to be chilled to make it drinkable. Too bad. On the positive side, the service and servers were outstanding. Attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, fast, and very nice...therefore the 2 stars. read more

I ate dinner at the bar during the week which has its own special menu so this review is based on that. The calamari is outstanding, some of the best I've had. My blackened chicken atop fettuccine Alfredo was also great, I ate it all. Superb service, all the bartenders were dressed nice and they were funny and cool. Great place to take a date I'll definitely return, looking forward to trying some other menu items! read more

We ordered meals online since we live nearby. They have what looks like a new website. We did get a text with the order number and receipt for payment. When we went to pick up our meal 30 minutes later, they had no trace of our order being placed. No one ever apologized, just said it was a new website. They had to make the order from scratch. From that point we expected that a manager will come out and apologize and possibly offer something for compensation. Nothing was given to us, no manager showed no, "I'm sorry" it was given. When I got home with the meal we were not very impressed with the food. I would say it was "average". I then looked on line to see if the charge card payment had gone thru- it promptly processed! If this is the best they can do, I would recommend you looking elsewhere for service! Particularly at these prices!Meatballs read more

The food and service was fantastic! My partner and I ate there for our anniversary and felt very comfortable by the staff to be able to celebrate. We are a gay couple but we felt no hate towards us and all love. I definitely recommend this place for a good dinner! read more

Cafe Calamari was one of the prime Italian restaurant's in Lake Geneva. Well not true anymore. Ordered the angel hair pasta, marinara sauce and meatballs. They used to give you two large veal home made meatballs. Not so anymore! The marinara sauce seemed like it came out of a jar and you get 4 small meatballs, like the frozen meat balls in a bag. They even have cut back on the quantity of pasta you get. So disappointing! Two friends with us had the special of Sea Bass @ $40 and the amount of fish was about 6oz. We have a home in Geneva National and time to drive to Sweet Aroma!! So disappointing !! Take a pass! Jonathons in Delavan has better far better pasta! read more

This is one of my favorite restaurant in Wisconsin every time we go there. The food is excellent. Service is great.summertime is even better if you have outside seating as you can view the lake. read more

We have been here many times for many years. This place is rock solid with consistently serving great food and a fair price. FIVE STARS read more

Our group had calamari, bruschetta & mussels for apps. All were delicious. Our server Tonya did such a great job. Went for NYE. Had Beef Wellington for my entree (special menu for the holiday). Wellington was also good. Great cocktails! read more

Cafe Calamari - Beef Wellington - Italian Near Me - Williams Bay, Wisconsin

Loved this place for the location for years! Decided to come for my spouses birthday one day in the summer and I have never had so many regrets. Bad service, dry cold food, and terribly dark room to eat. Asked if we could wait for a seat outside and the waitress laughed at me because the wait was so long. I was only trying to create a good time for my spouse. Almost cried at how rude that was. Lesson learned, we will go elsewhere then deal with people who just laugh when they say sorry. read more

Beautiful ambiance, fantastic service, and great food. Had a wonderful time celebrating my friends rehearsal dinner here.

We're on a trip and tried this place. Excellent Italian food! We had a nice table looking at the lake, and everything was very good! Highly recommend read more

Very busy restaurant. We had a party of 8 and it was recommended to get there around 4 pm to be Seated quickly. Food (Ribs) were excellent, fall of the bone. They don't use a sweet sauce but it was excellent. Would definitely return. read more

There you go! Nice place for high quality food. The chef really knows what they are doing. Pasta and all dishes seem to be so authentic I'm not sure how it's done with so many tables. My complements to the chef! Servers are very good and make the meal a pleasant experience. Any item is the best and my guests and I have toured the menu over the years. Great value vs price. Try the fennel based sauce. It should be bottled and sold at the restaurant. The signature salad is made table side and it's the real deal. Wonderful blend of spices, veggies and fruit/nuts. You can order a pizza at the bar only. read more

served undercooked salmon resulted in food poisoning, severe symptoms on 18 July 20..called restaurant next day left message no response...patronized for years will never go there again..you will get ill and the restaurant doesn't care. FACTS read more

It's OK. I am a snob about Italian food as I lived in Rome. The location is great; but food is just OK