The service and ambience were excellent. We started with a bread basket -- it featured 3 varieties of bread including a spicy focaccia-like bread that I liked a lot. Bread was served with olive oil and a healthy serving of tasty parmesan cheese. The olive oil had a robust flavor to it, but I thought it tasted a little too strong. I like the balanced taste of the oil I use at home. For my main, I had the rigatoni with Sunday gravy. The dish was a meaty and hearty. I would've liked it better if the meatiness was balanced with a sweet tomato taste and a little spice. Fabiola's is like the Trader Joe's of restaurants. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli is a cozy spot with genuinely friendly service. Fabiola's was at the top of my list of places to try in Madison since it opened due to the owner's mission with his businesses keeping this neighborhood connected to and continuing its history. On this visit, the owner seated us. The initial table was uncomfortably close to other diners, which my dining partner could not endure for even a minute with so much open space available. We moved to the other side of the wall. Service did not mind. I had to get the spaghetti and meatballs as I always do on a first visit to an Italian spot. Its always the measuring stick for me. Simple, homey, and satisfying -- the kind of place that makes you feel welcome while enjoying classic comfort food. read more

We were greeted and seated promptly and our service was great even when it got really busy. We started with the bread basket which was served with a side of Parmeson and olive oil (which included lemon & olives). The brown bread had a delicious Asiago melted on top which gave it a wonderful flavor. I ordered the Spicy Penne Alla Vodka and I LOVED it. It was actually spicy, very creamy, the bacon and prosciutto were amazing bursts of flavor. I will definitely be coming back & ordering this again! I thought it was a decent serving size for the price. My partner ordered the Chicken Parmeson - which was also great! read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Spicy Penne Alla Vodka - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This cam as a recommendation while in town. It is attached to the famous Leopold Bookstore and coffee/bar. Small parking lot out in front. Traditional old school Italian vibes inside. Wasn't too busy when we arrived at 6pm or so on a Sunday but business quickly picked up. We ordered the romaine wedge, chicken vesuvio and gnocci. Service was super friendly, helpful and attentive. At the end of the meal we had the tiramisu. All items were delicious. However the tiramisu did not seem "soaked" enough and was rather dry. We might not order that again. They ran out of the fennel salad but the table next to us had it and said it was delicious so we will def try that next time. The wedge and entrees were ample portions and delicious. We will def come back. read more

See all

Fabiola's was so disappointing!!! All of the food was mediocre at best. The drinks were just ok. The service was average. And the ambiance is nice, but very loud and hard to hear the person across from you. We won't be going back. Cute spot that missed the mark. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is such a perfect combination of good food, good experience, comfort feel. The fact that they pay homage to the previous Rocky Rococo mural, the original bar, and Italian roots is all you really need to know. But, I'll divulge our full experience because you asked :D We were lucky enough to find a parking in the lot on a Saturday evening. We timed it to arrive right when they opened and boy were we grateful. Parking isn't the best in the area, as it's mostly street, but with the snow and construction it can be difficult. For a party of 4 we were seated in a lovely booth that was supportive and cushioned. The restaurant doesn't take reservations unless you have a party greater than 6, they have an online waitlist that is worth checking out but we found that arriving right at opening was the perfect solution, if you're open to an early dinner. Anyways, the service was great, attentive and timely. The Gin Martini was made perfectly and while they don't have beers on tap, the cold glass that comes with the can works well. We enjoyed their special bread basket - which is worth is but $6 and fills you up ahead of your meal. The Calamari special was divine. Perfectly cooked, breaded, and devoured by the table. The garlic dip was more mustard like..so I'm curious if that was a mix up. For entrees we got the chicken vesuvio (SO GOOD), the pan fried gnocchi (GREAT spin on a classic), pasta primavera (just okay), and Rigatoni with Sunday Gravy (fantastic way to try all their meats!). We all had alot of food and like I said - with the bread we were full so we had leftovers, which reheat well. For dessert the gelato was supurb. I loved their take on a spumoni. The only note I will say is that it is pricey and the restaurant gets LOUD. The sound seems to echo from other conversations around the restaurant, but I saw that as more of a charming detail like an italian home, but it's something to note, especially given the price point. Everything we have an noted above was good and I would go ahead, however walking out for there for $60 a person was not on my bingo card and paying close to $30 for a pasta realistically we can make at home is tough. For that price point, I think the ambiance needs to be a bit more elevated, but otherwise it's a solid italian place in Madison. read more

Had dinner at Fabiola's the other night. I really dig the vibe in there. Sat at the bar and the bartender, Maya, was a pro. Started with the orange and fennel salad w watermelon radish and apricot dressing. Outstanding. Next, had the linguine vongole. Their Manila clams were next level. Amazing texture, sweetness, and a ton of them in the dish. If you haven't gone, go check it out. This is an amazing addition to the Italian dining scene in Madison. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

A cute diner connected to a fun bookstore/bar! I found the vibes to be cute, but the food to be average. They have prompt service and even bring in a piano player for dinner vibes. I'm glad I checked it off my list and will def be back for leopolds and the tiramisu. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Spicy penne - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

It's was OK. Service was good, but the food was average in general and below-average for the price. There are many better alternatives in Madison. read more

It was very good! Very fairly priced and good food. I got the chicken Parm and tiramisu for dessert.

Wow.. I have been a big fan of this place, minus I few kitchen errors until now. Tonight I stopped in alone for one cocktail and some oysters. The place was pretty empty for a Thursday night. I sat at the bar and ordered a Lambrusco spritz and half a dozen oysters. The oysters had broken pieces of shell and grit. I told the bartender and she told me "it's supposed to be like that". I nicely told her "no, it's not". She brought my check - $50 for one drink and 6 sandy oysters. I'm very sad to say, never again. read more

Oh my goodness...where do I begin?! This place is AMAZING! Except for the parking situation, that is. But the incredible service makes up for it, as well as the delicious food! My friend and I needed a night out, so we decided on Fabiola's Spaghetti House for dinner. To start, I ordered a Phony Negroni (pregnancy problems) and my friend ordered what I REALLY wanted - the Pistachio Cream Ale. For a NA drink, however, the Phony Negroni did hit the spot. For our entrees, I opted for the chicken parmesan, and my friend got the spicy penne alla vodka. I tried a bite of hers, and it was very tasty, and had a kick for sure! The chicken parm was incredible, and I could seriously eat nothing else for the rest of my life and be beyond content. Absolutely delicious! It was honestly perfect in every way. It was crispy fried, cheesy, with just the right amount of marinara sauce. The garlic flavors were present in every bite. I am a big fan of broccolini, so I was thrilled to see that was the seasonal vegetable. I definitely plan to return with my husband for date night. read more

See all

Went for dinner after a weekend afternoon show at the Overture. It was pretty busy, but we managed to get a table fairly quickly. Food didn't get to the table as quickly, but you can probably attribute that to none of us having eaten since breakfast and not having immediate access to Snickers. I ordered the pork tenderloin, and boy, was I surprised. They didn't overcook the tenderloin even a smidge. I was impressed. The potatoes, mushrooms, and sauce were all good. Although, looking at them, I highly doubt the mushrooms were "wild" ones. More like "descended from wild" as my brother-in-law put it. The vegetable for the night was broccolini. And like me in the afterlife, it got touched by flames. I think it really surprised me because I kind of expected the kitchen to take an easier route and just pan fry it in a crapload of garlic and butter. Let me just say this, being a licensed restaurant or bar in Wisconsin and not having tap beer available should be a crime. That's a serving margarine instead of butter level crime! And don't get me started on the really short beer list that was pretty much just different forms of IPA. And no, I will not stop harping on there being too many IPAs in my Yelp reviews. We ordered the appetizer special of the night. It was fired shrimp and calamari, along with some croquettes that I will get to in a second. The shrimp was fine. Man was the calamari not even passable in my opinion. It was too small. Of a squid. Look, I don't keep up on when the squid fishing season takes place, but this batch of squid should've been thrown back....if it was squid. I'm not accusing the restaurant of anything. I just have enough knowledge of how the seafood industry works to know shady stuff goes on in the supply chain. Putting all that aside, it was still overcooked. I like potatoes in pretty much all ways and forms. Except for some reason, potato croquettes. Maybe I'm just prejudice against the concept of an adult tater tot. Anyways, the ones I ate as an appetizer did nothing to change my mind. It had fish in it. Which I have realized is not a combination I am down with. Especially in a form of media where they're smooshed together like that. Yup. The mistake was in getting the appetizer "special" and me going along with it. (So, basically, this is my sister's fault, and not necessarily the restaurant's.) Never get the special, especially if it is seafood. If you don't know why that is, read Kitchen Confidential. All right, to wrap up this TED talk, Fabiola's is fine. I wouldn't call it the greatest Italian restaurant in Madison though. In fact, I think that's a bit of either a stretch, or low expectations as to what a truly great Italian restaurant is. I'd still make another visit though. Especially to order the veal to tick off my vegan aunt and cousin. read more

This place had been on our list to try. We ventured there early on a Saturday evening since they don't take reservations (they do have a call ahead to get on a wait list). We were seated promptly in their relatively small dining area - it is tight and at times we had to make sure the waitstaff didn't clip our plates hanging over the edge of the table when they rushed by. Our server was very friendly and helpful. After we ordered some beer and wine we started with a basket of their bread which included a focaccia that appeared to have cheese and a red sauce embedded in it. It was super delicious while it was warm. The other bread was good for mopping up the red sauce in my main. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan which was on spaghetti- the serving was huge. We took half home and it provided another meal. I did ask for extra red sauce since I like it that way. The chicken was tender and moist. Very good. My wife got the eggplant parm which she normally doesn't order and it was disappointing. It was actually almost underdone and too al dente for her taste. She did mention it to the waitress who was ready to replace it with something else but we were almost done eating. She did offer a complimentary dessert and my wife opted for the tiramisu which was very good. We did appreciate the good customer service and most of the food was tasty. The prices were high but not unusual these days. Also we do like that the owner is keeping Regent Street alive with places like this and the Greenbush Bar that are not just college bars and high rise student housing. read more

Ventured to Fabiola's for a last minute Valentine's Day table since they do not take reservations. It was nice to be able to throw our name on the online waitlist before going. Atmosphere was great - definitely a cute date spot! Service was also excellent. For the food, I ordered the bread basket which included a spicy focaccia type bread that was very tasty. I got the Penne Arrabiata as my main which was good, but definitely not the best Italian I have had in Madison. Would recommend checking it out. read more

Some of the best Italian food in Madison, it's a cozy little restaurant with amazing service, and I can think of little worth criticizing about it. read more

I had a lovely experience at Fabiola's on a Thursday night. My drinks and food were delicious. Highlights of the menu for me were the ricotta gorgonzola gnocchi and the sunday salad. The bread basket was a nice addition, and I liked my sister's alfredo as well. Potatoes were good but needed a touch of salt. Highly recommend any of their spritzes!! Our server was so kind and knowledgeable too. Will definitely return. read more

See all

Awesome expresso and pastries. Wide array of delicious sandwiches. Love the retro vibe of the dining room. Try the Sfogliatelle Italian pastry! This crisp, yet tender pastry is incredibly decedent and different. It is pronounced soy-ya-dell. read more

See all

We've eaten here a few times. Wow!! I crave their food. The menu is well thought out and lots of choices that will keep us coming back. The staff is always one step ahead knowing what you may need and very personable. If you can sit at the bar. The seats are super comfy and to watch the bar tenders work their magic is a work of art. Don't see it on the menu?? Ask... they can accommodate your craving. read more

See all

Hands down Fabiola's is the best Italian restaurant in Madison, don't miss it! The food is excellent. Tonight we enjoyed the Sunday salad, which was perfect and homemade spaghetti and meatballs, absolutely wonderful! Lovely wine and Tiramisu for dessert was the feather in the cap. We can't recommend this restaurant enough! The atmosphere is wonderful friendly, competent staff, music, and ambience in addition to the great food always brings us back. read more

Huge Leopold's fan; finally had the chance to visit Fabiola's for dinner on a Friday night for a party of 2. Made the reservation a week in advance and had no issues getting a table. The venue is really rustic and cute and is right next door to Leopolds. We started off getting the bread basket which included a mix of tomato sauce on focaccia and French bread with parm and extra virgin olive oil to dip. The bread was good. For mains we got the chicken parm and the homemade meatballs. Both were awesome and exceeded my expectations. Each entree was around ~$24 which I thought was reasonably priced considering the portion sizes were so large. I am a huge fan of the meatballs and chicken parm they're dishing out. Will definitely be back! read more

See all

For $115 with tip for three people this was awful . There was no beverages other than water, we got no desserts , no salads . So it was just one Bread Basket for $6.50 and three dinners roughly 27 a piece . The flavor was blah the sauce was blah the portions were ridiculously small . And the buying the Bread Basket and an Italian restaurant just threw me completely off . We all felt at the end of our meal that we'd have been better off at the Garden . At least there would have been breadsticks . read more

Fabiola's does not disappoint. Despite a last minute reservation change, we were seated and enjoyed great service and a delicious meal. THIS is the place to go for true Italian cuisine. Locally-owned by the son of the former owner who grew up in the Greenbush. Oozes authenticity. Online reservations are advisable. read more

yummy food (a bit pricey) with a nice ambiance. staff were a bit pushy in having us leave (they didn't close for over 1.5 hours and the restaurant was not busy), but were otherwise nice. food isn't terribly salty. solid choice for a dinner date :-) read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - broiled shrimp in scampi butter & spaghetti and meatballs - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I really enjoyed my visit to Fabiola's! We went on a Friday and were sat immediately, it was awesome. They kept our water topped up all night and it was honestly the best tap water from a restaurant I've ever had, so crisp and cold. The bread basket is a must, the focaccia was so good. Mushroom lovers definitely need to get the fettuccine, it was easily one of the best pasta dishes I've had in a long time. I did not like my Negroni sbagliato but they can be hit or miss for me. My friend got the chicken parm and the serving was ginormous. I lived the ambiance inside as well, felt like having dinner at Italian grandmother's house, a nice little nostalgic treat. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Bread basket - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

One of the worst services I have ever had in my entire life. The waiter, K*ith, was super condescending at the start, talking to us as if we don't understand English, and when we complain about it, he doubled down and said that he had served her longer than we have lived and we were "special guests" in a super sarcastic way, and he did not apologize or ask us for feedback. After that, we asked him for the bill, so we could just pay and leave, and outright said "Nope". When we confronted him about it, he complained that he had a bad day, since the Madison football team lost and refused to apologize to us. If you are having a bad day, then don't blame it on us and be professional about it. So yeah, I hope K*ith knows that your action ruined someone's birthday, made the whole cooking staff waste 3 free dishes of tiramisu and caused his restaurant a loss of about 500 dollars worth of food from that night. Hope your day is as good as ours. read more

Tried it again for dinner. Service was good with waitress being attentive. Vesuvian chicken...sauce was flavorful. Potatoes mediocre. Broccolini undercooked and hard. Chicken was kind of a mess with skin on that wasn't really well rendered with texture akin to Asian chicken rice. The location is of course stellar with one of the prettiest interiors I've ever seen. But dinner food isn't really up to snuff. read more

I had an incredible experience here. Tonight was my boyfriend and I's anniversary. We didn't know where to go, but had seen this place before so decided to try it out. The food is INCREDIBLE. We loved it. We ordered the Italian sausage and peppers which was delish. I had the pork chop and my boyfriend got the rigatoni. We both thoroughly enjoyed our meals and agreed that as far as date night meals go this might just beat out our favorite (Eno vino ). Our service was wonderful. We sincerely appreciated they brought us a little champagne to start our meal and a cannoli when we mentioned it was our anniversary. This little touch went a long way and is so rare nowadays, so was greatly appreciated. Our server was lovely and attentive! I also want to note the incredible NA drink selections! Usually when you go to a bar/restaurant it's the standard "Busch NA" or "Heineken 0" but they had multiple options to choose from. I tried two NA cocktails and my boyfriend was excited to get the NA Brooklyn IPA. We will be back! And back again. And again. And again. read more

Second time eating at Fabiola's last night, and it was a delight again. We walked in and were seated as a party of three immediately. Pretty amazing for a Friday night, and we were appreciative. The atmosphere there is some of the best, with their cozy and comfy vibe. The lighting is low enough to create a feeling of warmth but bright enough to read their menu easily. Bonus points that the menus are printed on a paper that has a pearl finish, so it actually catches the available light for even easier reading. Attention to detail is definitely a big part of Fabiola's game plan. It carries through to the food itself. Our party had a plate of olives to start. Ours seemed to be a generous plate made up of castelvetranos in a delicious olive oil. We then had the rigatoni with Sunday gravy; the chicken Parmesan; and the eggplant Parmesan. All are very generous portions as well. The rigatoni has been consistently great; just as good as when we first had it. It will be a continual hit if they keep it up. The eggplant Parmesan was a heaping plate of perfectly al dente spaghetti with marinara and several pieces of delicious eggplant. I could not stop eating it until my entire plate was empty. The chicken Parmesan was a bit overcooked but flavorful, and the pasta aglio e olio was cooked to perfection. We were nearing the end of our meal when the manager came by to chat and ask us how everything was. He was so kind and courteous and truly interested in hearing our thoughts. When he heard that the chicken was slightly overcooked, he took the time to immediately go back to the kitchen to let them know. He then offered our table a complimentary dessert. In this day and age, this is something that I rarely see; but it just shows the caliber of establishment that is Fabiola's. They take care of you because they do care. Our desserts were a selection of the most delicious gelato, made right in Sheboygan, WI. Creamy but not heavy and bursting with flavor. Fabiola's is a must if you're looking for some consistently delicious Italian food in a lovely space with some of the most amazing staff and management you could ask for. You, your stomach, and your heart will feel good coming here! read more

Excellent everything. Happy people working at a great place. Drinks, food, atmosphere and decor are fantastic. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Delicious food, fantastic service, drinks and atmosphere. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My cousin and I love this place. We come here every so often but when we do, we have a fantastic time. It's been maybe a few weeks since we last went but before that had been a few months and then one of those days where you just have this craving for the best spaghetti and I know exactly where to go get it. I definitely recommend coming to this place With your friends and family to get the best spaghetti in Madison. The pan fried ricotta gnocchi is our favorite dish. We always order it together and for some reason we never order anything else. I think it's because it was the first meal we had here and were just blown away. . Sometimes she brings my niece , she also loves the spaghetti, but her favorite is the Eggplant Parm. Great for the family. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Plenty of parking but is very busy! Leopold's as well. Check out my other reviews! Including my first time hanging at Leopold's - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

My second time visiting Fabiola's last Friday night was just as good as my first trip in. A friendly greeting from the host seating people, an amazing waitress with warmth and a great sense of humor, and most importantly, FANTASTIC food. I had the eggplant parmesan, and a perfectly mixed Wisconsin style old fashioned. HIGHLY recommended. read more

I've only ever eaten at the bar - every time I'm in town, after sitting at Leopold's for a couple hours with a book and a black walnut manhattan. The food is solid--I always get the spaghetti with marinara, classic and simple. But the ambiance is what makes this place a great choice. That, and Maya, the bartender, who is one of the most engaging, warm, and kind humans I know. read more

This was my second time going, and I got the spicy vodka chicken parm sandwich and the duck fat matzo ball soup. The sandwich was really tasty, but not very spicy at all and needed more salt. The soup was delicious but again needed more salt. I was definitely more impressed this time around, and the service was good and I felt like it was reasonably priced. It's a cute spot for lunch, and the food is pretty solid - just think both items needed more salt. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Spicy vodka chicken parm sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

Excellent service, food and atmosphere. I brought a friend from out of town here and we had a wonderful time. I got the fettucini alfredo with wild mushrooms. It was creamy and rich and the mushrooms were delicious. I love that they add vegetables (carrots and green beans, on this day) to your plate. We shared a bread basket (so tasty) and even the olive oil to dip it in was good. My friend ordered the escarole & beans, which were perfectly garlicy and earthy. We'll be back & I'm telling friends to visit this place. It's the perfect mix of comfy, laid back and elegant with high quality food and service. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Fettucini Alfredo with mushrooms - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Restaurant connected to Leopold's. Nice ambiance. Live piano music was playing in the background. Attentive service by a couple of servers checking on our table. I ordered the Chicken Vesuvio because I was told this dish was the reason they decided to open this restaurant. It was good, but it did not knock my socks off. If I were to return, I would order something else. read more

Fabiola's Spaghetti House & Deli - Chicken Vesuvio - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Stopped by Fabiola's with my family while visiting home. The goods: I was instantly impressed with the family style Italian restaurant decor that transformed Rocky rococos. Service was prompt and lovely. Our family enjoyed drinks which came out quickly. Food was overall really solid. Would be back for the penne a la vodka The notes: we ran out of water rather quickly so I would recommend having extra water available on the table for us to refill our cups. Salad options were limited and i was surprised there was no Cesar salad on the menu at an Italian restaurant. Portion sizes are HUGE. Like massive. Like easily feeds 2 people. This wasn't obvious on the menu and I'm seriously concerned the owners are losing money on these portion sizes. My stepmom reported the meatball was too large and had more breadcrumb in it than it needed. Overall: so thankful regent street is getting cooler. Hope this place makes it with a few adjustments! Would be back! read more

Great service. food was amazing. gnocchi was perfectly cooked. Meatballs to die for. Sunday salad perfect and the steak was seasoned well and cooked right on! Will be back for sure. They do not have kids menus but they did have kids portions for some meals. Wonderful Ambience and overall experience. read more

Terrible experience. Long wait from seating to food (90 minutes). Waitress may have forgotten to place our order. Two of meals were not correct. Broccolini was far overcooked, pork very dry. Pastas were both very good. No communication during long delay. Asked about time expectation after 1 hour waiting, response from server was nice, owner was snobby. Avoided table once served. After mentioning mistake in order when given the bill, were asked about meal by owner. Shared that delay was disappointing and mistakes on order was frustrating. Owner said we were in the wrong. Then asked us to leave the restaurant. Would not recommend. Would give a zero if possible. read more

Unfortunately, not the amazing new place I expected it to be. Went with a friend and each ordered a cocktail and an entree. The cocktails were pretty good so we were off to a good start. The food was...not so good. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana and my friend ordered the meatballs. The eggplant was soggy and the flavor was pretty bland. I felt like I could have made it better at home to be honest. It was served with "seasonal vegetables" which were green beans and carrots. They were overcooked and drenched in butter. Didn't taste seasoned. For the quality of the food, the prices were outrageous. Way too expensive for what is being served. The vibe in the restaurant is REALLY cute and I will say the service was great. Our waitress was really lovely and attentive. Unfortunately it just did not deliver when it came to the food :( read more