The roasted salmon is fantastic. Hannah was a great server! Love the ambiance, this is our third visit and there are tons of delicious options on the menu to try. read more

Grace was incredible - from fixing a wobbly table to recommending fantastic menu choices!

Grace was amazing. The food was fabulous. Pizza was the best. I would highly recommend Caio.

No wait on a Friday evening when we didn't have a reservation. Grace & Kenny were exceptional servers from start to finish! Speed of service and food was great and special accommodations were considered since we had a small kiddo in our party. Thank you! read more

Another good meal at one of our favorite neighborhood gems! Always reliable service and good food! I had the potato gnocchi with grilled chicken, my wife had the bolognese and my son had the spaghetti with a giant meatball! All were good! They have a new fixed price meal option I will try, but I was craving the pesto! The restaurant is always in great shape and fun to just be in its inviting atmosphere! It is one of our favorite places and I do wish they had a children's menu (even if it only available before 7) that would make it a bit more affordable, but it leaves plenty for lunches! read more

Met friends here for dinner and free parking available on the nearby street. Interesting building and interior was lovely. Noise level was high and made conversation very difficult. Service was slow and timing between courses was noticeable. We had to ask for several items multiple times (silverware, water refills, cocktail order, final check) and this seemed to irk our server slightly and the dining room manager quite a bit. We felt like we were a bother. Ah well. Food was okay -- good but not swoon worthy. Might try it again just for a second chance and perhaps as a summer option for an alfresco experience. read more

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My wife and I, along with my daughter, her husband, and her in-laws went to Ciao on a recent Friday evening to celebrate my daughter's birthday. We've been to Ciao a few times before last night and the memories of those prior dinners enticed us to dine there again. It was the first time for the in-laws, who moved to Louisville in 2025 and thought that they would enjoy the food and the atmosphere. Unfortunately, each of us was disappointed with what we had and everyone agreed that neither the quality of the food nor the portion sizes justified the prices that were charged. I saw in one of the other reviews that the restaurant is under new ownership. Perhaps this explains the change that my wife and I noticed in the quality of the food, as well as the sense that the portions seemed to be be noticeably smaller while the prices seemed to be noticeably higher. My wife and daughter had a baked pasta dish that looked dry and overcooked and my wife confirmed that it was. My son-in-law had a seafood pasta that looked good but he said that the scallops seemed somewhat slimy. He and I split a Bibb lettuce wedge salad, which was okay but not as good as most iceberg lettuce wedge salads that I've had elsewhere. I had the salmon dish, which was a comparibly small portion for the price. The salmon tasted fresh, the texture was good and flaky, and the flavor was both interesting and somewhat unique but nothing that warranted the price being charged. For dessert, I had a small piece of some Italian semionella cake. I don't remember exactly what it was called but it was very, very dense and very, very hard to bite into; much like something would be if it were frozen solid. But it was served at room temperature so I had to assume that this was simply the nature of the cake. it tasted okay and it somewhat reminded me of bread putting; albeit, without the warmth, the fluffy texture and a sauce of any kind. The service was fine and our server was friendly and efficient. However, for whatever reason, the seating was less comfortable than I remember from my previous visits. The seat part of the benches near the bar were rather shallow and made it feel as if we were sitting on stadium bleachers. They were not conducive to a comfortable dining experience. This was the first time that I remember sitting in the front room by the bar, so perhaps the seats in the back are different. I didn't check to see so I can't say so with certainty. I only know that the seats that we sat in this time were uncomfortable. read more

Went to Ciao last night for the $26 Restaurant Week prix-fixe and it seemed like a pretty amazing value. We both started with the crab arancini. Three solid balls each with real crab flavor coming through, a nice tangy bite that tasted like lemon zest, and a spicy mayo topping for some heat. Pretty good. For mains, we did the Gnocchi Alla Vodka and Chicken Picatta (which they seemed to have swapped for Chicken Masala). The Gnocchi was loaded with sauce and a very generous amount of spicy Italian sausage. It had a nice spicy kick to it too which was suprising. I ordered the Chicken Piccata, which the Restaurant Week menu described as confit thigh with lemon, capers, and ditalini pasta. What showed up instead was their Chicken Marsala: half chicken in a mushroom marsala sauce with roasted potatoes. The description didn't match, but the chicken itself was incredibly good. Tender, infused with herby aromatics, and earthy from the mushrooms and wine. I've had Marsala before and usually find it meh, but this one was really really good. The sauce and potatoes were just average, but the chicken carried the plate. Since Marsala is normally $31 on the regular menu, getting it on the $26 deal felt like a bonus, even if it was probably a kitchen swap from being busy. We also split an Italian Margarita for $15. It came in a tiny glass, but it was refreshing with a clear limoncello taste . Good citrus kick and not too sweet. Dessert was two scoops of ice cream in a cup with chocolate and caramel sauce. Simple but hit the spot. Service was definitely slow. Understandable for a packed Friday night during Restaurant Week, but they forgot my drink order and my dish got swapped so thats a bit of a minus. Food quality and portions made up for the wait though. The bartender with glasses absouletley hauls ass and keeps things together. Kudos to her Overall this was an absolute great value for Restaurant Week. Generous portions and good food. Definitely recommended for Restauraunt Week at least. read more

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Finally gave Ciao another try and I'm glad we did. Our server, Hannah, was super friendly and helpful with the menu. She brought me a beer sample so that I could decide what I wanted to drink which I appreciated since nothing is worse than being stuck with beer you're not crazy about! We started with the Bruschetta and it was excellent. The bread was crispy and the topping was tangy and sweet. It was perfect. We also split the Caesar salad which they were nice enough to bring out in two bowls for us. For the entrees we had the Lasagna and the baked ziti and the lasagna was delicious. The baked ziti was ok but the lasagna was definitely better. We also shared the tiramisu for dessert since they were unfortunately out of cannolis (guess we need to come back) and it was delicious as well. Everything was very nice and the restaurant itself is really rustic and comfortable. We will definitely be back again. read more

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Amazing environment, excellent food, stellar service! Lighting is such an important, but often overlooked aspect of a room. Ciao has created one of the warmest, coziest spaces in town with just a ton of bulbs that are warm (low K) and low lumens to make everything feel soft. Combined with all the exposed wood and metal, much of it harkening back to Louisville's shipping of bourbon barrels, it is just a lovely space to dine. Our party was large, so we ate in the private room upstairs. The food was buffet style and still very good. Quite a bit to choose from, even on the abbreviated menu. I have to talk about desserts, though. That Basque cheesecake was art. So much fluffier than a New York Style, with amazing flavor and a perfect sauce. Wherever you're eating, private room, a cozy table or even at the bar, Ciao is going to treat you well! read more

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Wonderful experience!! We went during happy hour and enjoyed several great appetizers and drinks. The main course was excellent, a pesto gnocchi. The service was fast and friendly, and very affordable for a good amount of food. We would definitely return when visiting Louisville again! read more

I'll say the vibes were great, music and service were awesome. But what I was there for, the food, not so much. I got the penne alla vodka and something to me was off about the sauce. Not like any I have ever had before and maybe that was my fault. read more

The food and the waiter were fine but we were there two hours and 15 minutes before we could get our check and check out. It took 90 minutes to get our entrées. The service was very slow at least 15 minutes and two asks to get our Bar drinks. Also, we were at the high tops and the most uncomfortable seats I've ever sat in. We stood up a couple of times for a break. My poor wife has sciatica and had her first good day in two months, but leg was hurting by the time we left. The seats were too small and very hard with no back. Not sure why anyone would choose those chairs in a restaurant. That's all a shame, but we were uncomfortable and couldn't wait to leave for that reason. On a better note, the people were kind and food was pretty good. Really enjoyed our bar choices. Just seemed understaffed with prom night. read more

Just gets better with each visit. The service, food, and atmosphere are just phenomenal. The service has picked up here and was not as paced as it has been on my previous visits. Their ability to rotate new menu items in and keep solid dishes is truly beyond me. The variety on the menu just keeps me coming back to try new things! We sat on the patio and honestly I didn't know they had a patio so large. It feels private even though it's on a pretty popular street. The Neopolitan lasagna was super cheesy and fresh. The pasta sauce is just a tasty hit. It is not super acidic like some tomato sauces tend to be. The pasta alla bolognese was a great take on a classic dish. The sauce was thick and stuck to the noodles, and you got the perfect balance with every bite. read more

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We live around the corner, and this has become somewhat of a staple for us. Their dinner has been great, and we had been hoping they'd start weekend brunch. So we were pleasantly surprised when they started offering Sunday brunch a few weeks ago. Today was our first experience, and it was very tasty -- interesting menu options like squash frittata and espresso soda with rosemary syrup. Also quite generous portions at reasonable prices. It's got a great vibe inside, too. They are still working out some kinks so the service was a little slower than other busy brunch spots but I appreciated being able to savor the experience and not feel rushed just so they could turn over the table. It's not super busy there yet so it's a great chance to try it out before everyone in the city finds out about it (the restaurant hasn't updated the new Sunday hours on their website or on Yelp yet so it's still a bit of an insider secret). We will most definitely be back! read more

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We came for the prix fixe dinner menu. For $29 you get a starter, main, and dessert. I ordered the bruschetta for my starter. It was delicious! For my entree I picked the sausage gnocchi. I was extremely impressed by the portion. It was a full sized plate even for the special menu. I even took home leftovers. Dessert was just okay, tasted like grocery store vanilla ice cream with some berries on top. But overall, you can't beat 3 courses for $29! We also sat at the bar which meant you could order 50% off bottles of wine. This place is a hidden gem with a very warm and cozy vibe. I'll be recommending to friends! read more

Ciao Ristorante - Sausage Gnocchi alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Ciao is a trendy Italian spot in Louisville where the food falls short. The oil with the bread was not the best quality and was not seasoned at all. The bruschetta was extremely over toasted to the point of being nearly burnt. The vegetable lasagna was not the biggest portion and was very bland. The shrimp alfredo had a good flavor, but used frozen shrimp instead of satisfying juicy pieces of seasoned grilles shrimp. Additionally, each entree is about $30 for very mediocre ingredients. It is at best, a slightly elevated olive Garden executed poorly. The fountain diet coke, oddly enough was fantastic and the service was prompt. read more

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Grace and James were well above fantastic! Great food and great fun! Apps and entrees were spot on. Interesting drinks and all around worth the drive. read more

My fella took me here on a date night and it was surprisingly my first visit to Ciao. I am usually not big on Italian food as I tend not to eat much in the way of pasta and steer away from tomato-based sauces, for personal preferences. But I love trying new places to me, and there were plenty of things to choose from that aligned with my personal gustatory preferences. He had made reservations for a Friday evening, but we were either there early enough that it wasn't necessary, or they really just aren't that busy these days. But they do take reservations if you want to ensure seating at a certain time. My cocktail was tasty but was a secondary choice, because my first option couldn't be made since they were out of prosecco? They were actually out of a couple things that made our ordering process and options tedious... For my food I wanted the crab cakes appetizer but with pesto. I thought that would be an easy swap. They came back and told me they could only do that for the meal-sized option. Which...seemed weird. But I did really want the crab cakes so my guy encouraged me to just get the meal-size serving and have leftovers. My dish and his dish were really good though! Good in that I am already excited to maybe go back another time to try more! Hopefully they are stocked on all the ingredients needed for the things on the menu... read more

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My review is for happy hour drinks on the patio. The patio is so cozy and the perfect spot to meet with friends. The late night happy hour starts at 8 and goes till close. I had the rhubarb spritz and sunshine spritz, they were both tasty and only $5! Our waiter was so sweet and made sure we didn't feel rushed. I can't wait to come back and try the food. read more

Ciao Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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I want to love Ciao as my neighborhood restaurant but it is very hit or miss each time. We've been in twice for dinner and once for brunch, here's our takeaways: We love the walkability/location and ambiance, they have an interesting variety of private cubby-type tables for date night, high tops and larger tables for groups, lounge tables near the front bar and a nice patio. A reservation would probably be recommended for a larger group. We love the drinks and appetizers here. They offer half price wine bottles which makes for an affordable and appealing Italian dining experience. The pre-fix dinner offered Monday- Wednesday can be a really good option too although they recently quit including wine with it and took off a few of our favorites such as the eggplant parm. We have had 10/10 appetizers each time, including the calamari, crab arancini (crab cakes), bruschetta, Caesar salad, panzanella. However, they started to miss when it comes to the entrees. I enjoyed the gnocchi Al pesto but found the sausage to be very fatty making the meal overall very heavy. The lemon picatta that they recently added to their pre-fix menu was way too lemony and way too salty for me. My friend got the same meal and considered it inedible but the service took so long she didn't bother trying to order anything else. The pre-fix included dessert but somehow the chocolate and pistachio ice cream was also too heavy to eat. Our brunch experience was the most recent. We saw a billboard advertising bottomless mimosas but unfortunately learned they had to stop offering this due to the local laws. We instead got a few pitchers of sangria and mimosas which were decent. The roasted potatoes and tiramisu pancakes really stole the show, they were phenomenal. I enjoyed my eggs Benedict and my friend enjoyed her cacio egg Pepe but found it light on the pepper and no condiments on the table to help. Unfortunately my friend found her frittata sandwich to be inedible, it was an interesting choice to put that on a large bun. The server was very kind about it and they really tried to make it right. The service here is very hit or miss as well. While they are polite, everything takes a very long time. I'm not sure if they are understaffed or if the kitchen is slow, but as the only customers there for lunch it still was a long wait for both drinks and food. Overall, I would give this place a try if you haven't! The drink deals and delicious appetizers make it worth it. But be careful with what you order and don't come if you're expecting a quick meal! read more

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We popped into Ciao on cold and snowy day, it's was nice a toasty inside and we sat in a cozy booth. We had beet salad (pictured here), fried squash blossoms, prosciutto fig pizza, and spaghetti and meatballs. The staff was friendly and our server stopped by to check on us a few times. We really enjoyed this neighborhood restaurant and plan on going back in the future! read more

Ciao Ristorante - Roasted Beets Salad - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Service was fine, but unremarkable. Unfortunately the calamari was over fried and closer to calamari crisps. The meat balls are okay but lack intrigue. The spinach artichoke dip is 99% melted cheese and virtually inedible. The starting bread and the toasted bread service with the appetizers is generally some of the lowest quality bread I have a been served at an Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is good, I wish the food matched! read more

Super disappointed once again. It really seems like they are trying to be an Italian restaurant but keep missing the mark. I wanted to order the Pre Fixe but couldn't get the servers attention in order to do so with enough time to have it delivered before we had to leave for the Headliners show. So much for that! No, they weren't busy (see photo of inside). Meatball was so-so. Bruschetta was not good. Server was nice but kind of clueless. I told 2 other servers that I wanted to order the Pre Fixe meal and they said they had to get MY server. OK but she never came and I ran out time. Still gave a 15+% tip because you just should. (20% goes to good service and 30+% goes to great service.) To sum up: Disappointed. read more

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Chef's kiss! They have a Monday through Wed prefixed menu and you get wine, a pasta, and a salad. Say less. I got the Cabernet, gnocchi (which was good but a little heavy), and the wedge salad. I forgot to take pic of the cannoli which was also so good! I'll be coming back! read more

Ciao Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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My only complaint is wishing that we could've stayed longer! From the absolute second that we walked in for Sunday brunch we were created by kind and warm individualsx almost as if we were close friends with the people working there. SOMEHOW we were the only people there!!! We were drawn to this restaurant because we saw a billboard that said they had bottomless mimosas, little did we know that that would just be the beginning of an amazing culinary experience. We sat outside on the patio with our two dogs, which was an Italian ambience that transported you straight into another country in the middle of summer even though it was only about 60° outside. They even offered a small pool for our dogs to play in! The food was absolutely phenomenal, and we both tried things that we had never had before. I cannot recommend the staff or food at this restaurant enough. We would 100% come back when in town! read more

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They had a good dinner deal where you get an appetizer entree and a glass of wine so I ordered that but I felt the food matched up with the price of that. The bread in the bruschetta basket was cold and the texture felt like it had been sitting for a while. The chicken alfredo was really the let down for me, the chicken tasted like it was boiled completely unseasoned and the sauce tasted like jar alfredo sauce. The servers were all teenagers so not very attentive either. One plus was it was at least a cool modern look inside. read more

Ciao Ristorante - Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Gave it a shot for the first time since the new owners exploded prices 60-80% across the board, and a lot of the criticisms from recent reviews rang true. Service was friendly but inattentive; we never got some things we asked for and in general it was very slow. Food quality has declined. Complimentary bread was dry and felt old. Alfredo sauce tasted canned. Berries on the ice cream had been frozen. There were high points: the $29 pre fixe is a good deal (we had to ask for that menu as it was not provided). Crab arancini was very good. Chicken thigh on the piccata was crispy and juicy. But it was a bummer to see it so empty on a Friday night at 7pm. Like someone else here said: The new pricing brings Ciao in line with Porcini and Volare, but it is not on that level. It used to be a cozy neighborhood spot to get a decent meal at a decent price. But now everything aside from the pre fixe is expensive and it's not worth it. read more

Jake was our server and was attentive without being intrusive We had a party of 6 and food all arrived in a timely manner and was tasty. Portions ate large read more

I came here for a girls dinner. They serve some sliced bread with olive oil (not the best bread but it was nice to have that little touch). The inside is decorated well. They have some outdoor seating in the front and I believe elsewhere although I'm not sure where that is. We sat inside and the AC was blowing pretty hard. We initially asked to move outside but once the AC was turned off, it was comfortable. I shared the Ciao salad with my friend- it was a nice portion and good salad. I'm really here with my review for the eggplant parm. It was so huge. Like- I'm actually making it into 4 servings, huge. It was delicious and crispy. I had an espresso martini that was okay- it was pretty strong so if that's what you want then you'll probably be happy with it. My friends ordered the lasagna and then the shrimp scampi; both of them were happy with their food. I can't wait to come back! read more

Ciao Ristorante - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Beautiful restaurant tucked away in a residential area of Louisville. The atmosphere is inviting and intimate with beautiful, rustic decor. Both the drink and food menus were extensive and stunningly designed. Their Aperol Spritz was highly boasted, and rightfully so. Meatballs were also roughly the size of a newborn baby (hand for scale). Delicious food, great for a date night or bringing friends to town. read more

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Absolutely great time, food and people! Had a blast. All of our dishes were yummy! Will be back!

This was our first time to this restaurant. I thought it was fantastic. Their bread is really soft but did toast upon request. The calamari was delicious. Their crab cakes had a great flavor. Their fried raviolis were great. I would recommend all three of those appetizers. I got the gnocchi with pesto sauce. The edible bowl it comes in taste like pizza crust. Great dish and they give you plenty. The short rib raviolis were scrumptious with a tasty sauce. The lobster raviolis were filled with succulent lobster meat. They only give you four; I wish they gave more. The Ceasar salad used another type of lettuce vs. Romaine. It was equally good. No military discount which was the only negative. For birthdays they give a birthday shot and a canoli. This place was delicious!! Our waiter Jack and his trainee, jasmine, were both great and did a great job. read more

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We had a wonderful experience at Ciao! The food was excellent--everything we ordered was delicious. Grace was our server, and she was fantastic. She was incredibly friendly, attentive, and especially great with our kids, which made the meal so much more enjoyable for our family. She made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and provided outstanding service throughout. Great food and great service--we'll definitely be back! read more

we ordered ravioli, bruschetta, margherita pizza, ziti, pesto gnocchi, and affogatos. everything was really good! **note the affogato can be ordered with pistachio ice cream instead of vanilla if so desired. our server was selina, who was just a doll. very helpful and attentive. read more

Grace provided amazing service! Food and drinks were wonderful. We had the penne alla vodka, and the bread was great!

I really like the atmosphere of Ciao. It has an old school feel. This was my second visit, waited 3+ hours for food to arrive.....They said there was a glitch with the computer?? Our server was terrific considering the circumstances beyond her control. The manager should have made a visit to the table...no show. The food was good, but certainly not worth the wait we experienced. They definitely need to add "spicy" to the Gnocchi Alla Vodka description. We have so many good Italian restaurants in Louisville, I will probably skip Ciao next time. The parking is not ideal, so if I make the effort, I expect a return. read more

Grace our server was great ! Great food and atmosphere ! Our needs were taken care of very quickly . Will for sure return for dinner .

I can't believe I never knew about Ciao! An adorable little spot on Payne Street, offering delicious Mediterranean Italian fare in a rustic, comfy setting. Our waitress, Grace, was lovely. Attentive, friendly, and helpful. The service was beyond reproach, from seating to table clearing to REALLY FAST food delivery, I didn't have a single complaint. The food was delicious. We got the chips and dip appetizer: warm bread, meats and a cheesy dip. House bread with oil for dipping is standard, which was great because we had a lot of extra dip to scoop up! For entrees, we got the gnocchi alla vodka and the warm brussels sprouts salad. DELICIOUS The wine list is carefully curated, and the drink menu is massive and fun. As full as we were, we knew we had to end the evening with cannoli, so we packed up some of each entree to take home. The espresso martini was a lovely accompaniment. We will be back, now that we know it's there! read more

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The meatball was beyond amazing but the rest was just mediocre. Totally disappointed with the cannoli. read more

Ciao Ristorante - Meatball - Italian Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky