The local interwebs suggested that this place might be worth the trip. The local interwebs were surprisingly accurate and if anything, understated. We arrived at 4:55 PM recognizing that we didn't have a reservation... I mean, what restaurant is packed right away when it opens? As it turns out this place is packed as soon as the doors open. They seat 40 on the high end according to the owner. We know this because he stopped to check on our experience, TWICE, while managing a full house. The food was superb. The price was fair, and given the quality, maybe even (dare I say?) a great value overall. For a red and white checkered tablecloth Italian dining experience, these guys are RIGHT on the money, RIGHT on the service, RIGHT on the quality. You can spend more but you won't get more. This place is worth every bit of five stars. read more

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Pros: Worth the wait! The food is incredible. The specials are creative and delicious The Lemoncello is a must try! Cons: We booked our reservation 2 months in advance Limited seating Pro tip: The patio opens at 5pm and is first come, first served. read more

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Lola & Giuseppe's epitomizes small but mighty. There isn't a lot of dining room space, but you'll feel right at home if you're lucky to snag one of their coveted reservations. Our server was a great cheerleader, instilling confidence in us that we were making great choices from the wine through the desserts. And the best part is that everything that I ordered delivered. The pasta fritto antipasto was an early standout as well as the Giuseppe's Salad with its rich olive oil-based dressing. Then came Giuseppe's Sampler headlined by the lasagna. The meatball and spaghetti was almost as great, but the eggplant parmesan kept the trio from being an all-time sampler. (My wife chose the eggplant option over the chicken parmesan, which would not have been my individual call). She got fettuccine alfredo which I also enjoyed. Wrapping up the meal was some of the best carrot cake I've had in a long time. read more

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We're always on the lookout for a great Italian restaurant in Columbus, especially after COVID cut down the owner of La Scala in Dublin and force that great place to close. Anyway, L&G's certainly didn't disappoint. I had the gnocchi Giuseppe's way with sausage and fried peppers and onions and it was terrific. My wife had their meat lasagna and it was also very good although my Italian grandma wouldn't have ever used that much meat, still really good. Wedding soup appetizer was outstanding. Key lime cheesecake was lite and not overwhelming. Just a really nice dinner at a place we'll definitely be back to. Worth the crosstown trip from Plain City. read more

Great family owned Italian restaurant with homemade food. This place is small and you need a reservation unless you get an open spot on the patio. The staff are amazing and the owner came to our table to check on us. The food is fantastic. The pasta is handmade and cooked to perfection. Everything we ordered was great. This would make a nice date night or special occasion spot. read more

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Lovely locally owned authentic Italian spot tucked away in the back of a shopping plaza. The restaurant itself is tiny, but warm and inviting. They have beautiful artwork and booths and you can see into the kitchen, which was super cool. The food was delectable. We typically don't go out for Italian, but this was legit. Handmade pasta and the best tiramisu I've ever had in my life!!! The wait staff were lovely and helpful in assisting us in making choices throughout the night. Definitely recommend!! read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Insalata caprese - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

So I absolutely love this restaurant and I have been a regular customer for numerous years. Has anybody noticed that since they implemented the new OpenTable reservation system it's almost impossible to get a reservation? If you don't believe me, go to their online reservation system and click two people... There won't be any availability for months, but if you click six or more people there's spots available at a normal dinner time (5-6:30). I understand that the popularity of this restaurant has increased in the past couple of years... And that is wonderful! However, they're making it impossible for couples to enjoy their delicious food because they're blocking off large tables. I hope they understand how detrimental this can be in the long run read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - This is showing that if you select six people, then there's lots of availability in June. - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Food was so good! Serving sizes were huge! The pasta Fritto was good but felt like it was too much with the entrees and soup. Would probably skip that. All the food was so great and service was great! read more

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Lola Guiseppes is truly a hidden gem in a small hidden location at Gahanna. The place is open for merely 4hours for service. They get booked very fast and only allow reservations. There is no chance you can get a walk in as they are booked for days. The food is very good. The onion soup is to die for. The pasta sauce everything is delicious. It's your Italian grandmothers kitchen recipes. The servers and owners are very hospitable and friendly. Definitely worth the visit. read more

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Wow! We stopped in without a reservation and the place was packed - on a Tuesday. That was a good sign. So we got takeout - and we now have a new favorite Italian restaurant. The lasagna is magnificent, the chicken Parmesan is delicious, and the farfalle with pesto cream sauce and grilled chicken was even better. And the wedding soup - maybe the best we've ever had. If the take out is this good, I can't imagine how good it is at the restaurant. Make a reservation - we will next time for sure! read more

Review by :Avila.Eats on TikTok, insta, YouTube Service: wait staff and owner are friendly and attentive. Water was never an issue and all questions were answered thoughtfully. Ambiance/Atmosphere: inside is small but well decorated. Spacious although cramped. Nice interior matching the home like exterior. Food: Spaghetti and meatball is alright. The sauce is a strong acid forward sauce and the meatball is tender and well flavored. The noodles were perfectly cooked and it all paired well together. You could take it or leave it. Lasagna was great. Thick layered meaty lasagna perfectly cooked and balanced between all ingredients. Large portion and thankfully so. I'd recommend. Chicken parm was delicious. Crispy well seasoned chicken breast. This is one of the better chicken parm's I've had in central Ohio. Well seasoned and perfectly cheesy. I'd highly recommend. Chicken Marsala was great. Juicy well seasoned chicken breast paired with a Delicious and well executed marsala mushroom sauce. I'm not a fan of risotto but this is was exceptional. I'd recommend. Chocolate espresso cake was good. I could see this being high on the list for a coffee lovers dessert list. Dense chocolate sponge with a delicious espresso frosting. Bread pudding with whiskey sauce was delicious. Soft, warm, well seasoned bread pudding In a delicious cream and whiskey infused sauce. This was the best bread pudding I've had to date. I'd highly recommend. Cannoli was delicious. Crispy shell and a freshly done ricotta mascarpone cream. The cream itself was a cinnamon cream and paired excellently with the chocolate chips. The best cannoli I've had In Ohio. I'd insist on this order. Carrot cake amazing. This is one of the best if not the best carrot cake in central Ohio. Deep orange color and packed with nuts. No raisins but the cream cheese frosting makes up for it with the subtle sweetness. I'd insist on this order. read more

This little hidden treasure is a must stop-- (reservation recommended)! A hidden gem, wonderfully treasured dishes, served right out of the kitchen. Sicilian Onion Soup alone is worth a days travel from Maryland for us. You can order dinner for pickup online. read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Sicilian Onion Soup - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Wow! Where do I begin!! I made a reservation for this restaurant after I friend of mine raved about it. Our reservation was at 7:30p and we were seated promptly upon arrival. Our servers name was DJ, she did an impeccable job. Very friendly, answered all of our questions and was very good at her job!) We ordered the Pasta Fritto for an appetizer and it was incredible. Bread service was included with the meal and the garlic bread was good! We both decided to get Alfredo and it was 10/10. Super creamy and rich, noodles were cooked perfectly. We then ordered 3 different desserts and brought them home to try. We got the Cannoli, Tiramisu and Carrot Cake. They're all made in the bakery next door and fresh as can be. The carrot cake was my favorite! I would highly recommend this place! The ambience was quaint and pretty, staff were incredible, food was top notch and the prices were fair. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria Meat Lasagna A giant portion! 5 layers of fresh ground chuck, four cheeses, and Anthony's marinar... $16.00 read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I am not trying to exaggerate here, but this may be the best Italian in Columbus, OH. The food was exceptional! My wife and I came here for my birthday, and it did not disappoint The service is outstanding. The owner walks around and greets everybody and makes everybody feel very welcome. Our waitress was extremely friendly. She kept bringing out fresh bread without any hesitation. The restaurant itself is very quaint. I can't imagine it can hold more than 30 people. There's plenty of parking. The place itself was cheap too! An appetizer, two salads, bottle of wine, two entrees, and two desserts for under $110? That feels like highway robbery! If we lived closer to Gahanna, we would be regulars! read more

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It's a sweet little place that serves exceptional Italian food. Eggplant parm is one of my favorites and Lola and Giuseppe make the best I've ever had! read more

Absolutely I love this restaurant. The sauce is delicious. It is not sweet. The atmosphere is cozy and the owner always comes out to greet and make sure everything is going well. It is my new favorite place. read more

Went here for Valentine's Day and just had a great experience. The Caesar dressing was the best I've ever had, the service was so quick and everyone was really friendly. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, garlic bread, baked ravioli - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Had a feast at Lola and Giuseppe's! It's a small local Italian place and they also have a bakery! They had lots of choices for noodles and I liked how the noodle choices were interchangeable. We went in without a reservation and were first quoted an hour wait but thankfully a spot opened up out on the patio so we were seated promptly! I recommend making a reservation for weekend nights. We started off with some complimentary garlic bread. The bread was soft and pretty good but it doesn't seem like it's made in house because when we asked for more garlic on it, they said it came pre-packaged so they gave us a little bowl of raw garlic to spread on it. Some more roasted garlic on it would have been great They had a sampler where you could get a piece of lasagna, spaghetti with meatball, and eggplant Parmesan on one dish! The eggplant Parmesan was the best with crispy eggplant and plenty of sauce. My favorite dish of the night was the fettuccine Alfredo. I chose shrimp as my protein. Although the shrimp was just okay, I liked how tender the noodles were and the sauce was creamy and not too salty! The gnocci was also very chewy and tasty, and I did like the addition of veggies, but the Italian sausage made it a bit on the salty side. The chicken parm came with spaghetti and green beans. The chicken was crispy on the outside and went well with the spaghetti. The portion sizes overall were large so there were leftovers! The prices are not bad for the size. For dessert, we got the cannoli. It was filled with tons of filling and chocolate chips. Overall the meal tasted very homey and hearty. Our server efficient and it was a beautiful night to dine outside so we left very happy! read more

What an amazing little place I've found. We had such a good experience here, we came with a couple friends and everyone was delighted by the taste of the food, the only thing I don't recommend to order is the fried spaghetti, yes you read it right, deep fried spaghetti, it didn't tickle my whistle at all, maybe you'd like it but I wouldn't order that again, for the rest of the food no complains, everything was delicious, amazing service and great ambiance who did say good things doesn't come in a small packages? Make reservations before you go. read more

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Nice but very small. Music too loud for such a small place. Played nice Italian music. Mandy our server was very nice but obvious she was new. Bread served was very tasteless. Lasagne would have been enjoyed but served lukewarm instead of piping hot. No excuse for this. The tiramasu was just ok nothing special. When I made my reservation I did put down that it was special occasion- birthday. I did expect anything but to acknowledge my husband's special occasion. No excuse for this. read more

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This was my first visit since moving back to OH. I used to be a regular and now I will be again. The carmelized onion soup was so delicious- I asked for 2 extra spoons so my friends could taste it and they loved it. The chicken marsala was excellent. All the components were melded together for a symphony. For dessert I had a cannoli, the best I've had in years. The portions were so big that I took home half of my entree and most of my cannoli. Trish our server was excellent. Be sure to make a reservation. It may take a while to get one. Totally worth the wait. read more

Great service and good. Ended up having to order takeout due to there being to much people but besides the fact it only took 20 minutes for 3 entrees and desert. From that point I drove 20 minutes back to my house and it still tasted perfect would recommend. read more

I chose Lola & Giuseppe's for my birthday dinner after hearing the hype for years. Reservations are hard to get, so I snapped one up when I saw it. The food was... Fine? I was expecting super authentic but it tasted like any other Italian restaurant. I was a big fan of the free garlic bread, but not a fan of the cramped quarters or the bathroom that butted up against a table. (Imagine being seated at that table? Ew.) The service was SO great, though. Altogether, I'd say it's a middle of the road option. Just come with realistic expectations. read more

Loved everyone part of it. Was a first date. The sat a cute elderly couple next to us who were super friendly. Staff was very nice and patience with us. The food was stellar. The building is quite small so tall people like me felt in the way if seated in the aisle. Other than that, highly recommend. read more

Been meaning to come here for years, but basically working second shift did not mesh with their hours. Now I can finally enjoy actually doing things in the evening. Met Mike, Anna, and a couple other Yelpers here. We had a reservation, which is a very good idea. Even on a Tuesday night there was a wait, and the place is tiny so the waiting area is pretty much in the dining room. As is the kitchen, right around the corner. But once seated it didn't feel cramped, and the noise level was decent, with easy conversation. There is a small outdoor area but it was rainy. Very pleasant environment, somewhat old-school Italian-American. As was the food: perfectly-done versions of lasagna, Alfredo, Parmigiana, etc. I got the lasagna, a big portion with very good sauce, perfect pasta, a load of excellent meat, and good cheese. Very enjoyable. Took home some gnocchi for Sweetie; she liked it but wasn't completely impressed. Loved the sauce, liked the gnocchi. Baby K got her new favorite, Alfredo, also on her new favorite, rigatoni. I tasted it and it was very good. She loved it. The kid's portion was more than enough for an 8-year-old, and really enough for an adult. Plus, hers was brought out first, a nice touch for parents. And it was not served hot- just right for a kid. Our meals were a bit warmer, again just right, and the one I got to go came out piping hot. They are on top of many little details here. There was plenty of garlic bread for the table, also good. I tasted Mike's artichoke-spinach dip: great dip with perfect dipping wedges. Stuffed, we passed on desserts, but they sounded good. Service was superb. There when needed, but not pushy, really on top of things for a kid, which I didn't expect from a fairly adult-oriented place. And on top of things in general. The owner checked in on us, and talked to Baby K about what she liked. Prices were better than I expected, well worth it for the quantity and quality. We will definitely be back. read more

Small and intimate restaurant, took a bit to finally be able to get in with a reservation but well worth it. Food was all delicious, and will definitely return. Service, everyone was very friendly and outgoing. read more

Lobster and shrimp ravioli and sampler were TO DIE FOR!! Great service and lasagna was absolutely amazing! read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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With all the hype surrounding this place I just had to try it! I was lucky enough to get a reservation about a week out (tip: keep checking for updated availability! Sometimes you can even get same day... especially if you don't mind 9pm). It is a small, fairly tight place hidden in a little strip mall. The decor is nothing extraordinary BUT that's not why we went. Service was good , attentive and friendly. Offered suggestions when asked and genuinely seemed to feel bad when the seafood special my husband ordered was sold out. We ordered a bottle of wine and some bruschetta (which was extremely fresh). The food: it was great! My husband had the shrimp and lobster ravioli, which he thoroughly enjoyed, especially the sauce. I couldn't decide, so I had the sampler (sub chicken parm). It was ALL delicious, especially the chicken parm! I highly recommend this, especially if you are overwhelmed by all the delicious sounding food! After dinner we got house made Limoncello and a Limecello (which tastes just like key lime pie)! My husband ordered tiramisu (which he thought was the best he had ever had) and we ordered 2 cannolis to go! All in all it was great food, definitely worth waiting a week for! We will be going back. read more

This was our first visit to this restaurant. The website and the reviews were accurate. The place is small and busy. Every seat was taken. The room looked like a classic Italian restaurant with checkered table clothes. The service was excellent and the portions are huge. We were visited at the table by the owner to introduce himself. The only disappointment was that they ran out of lasagna by 7:30. I had the onion soup. It was thick and filled with onions and it seemed to have mushrooms. Very tasty and filling. Imagine a bowl of soup these days for $6.00. The other items on the menu were very reasonably priced as well. The veal Marsala was good as well. A little different-the sauce was a little thinner and sweeter than I've had previously My wife's eggplant parm was tasty as well. Also a large portion. In summary, a good place to have dinner. Be sure to get a reservation well in advance. read more

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It's a cozy little place. An owner greeted us and our server was very pleasant al though she seemed to be dealing with a LOT of tables. We went at 6:45 on a weeknight. The house made Caesar dressing was fabulous although it came on the side & usually with Caesar salad it is tossed with the dressing. It would have been better tossed in the kitchen. My friend got Giuseppe's Sampler and was very pleased with it, especially the lasagna. It was HUGE. I ordered chicken Marsala and I think now I got the wrong dish. The chicken cutlet was breaded & deep fried, the red sauce seemed just like their regular red sauce & I did not detect any mushrooms or wine. It was still good and such a large portion that I took half home. But I won't order Marsala there again. I had an excellent tiramisu for dessert and my friend got carrot cake, which she enjoyed very much. read more

I had been wanting to try this place for a while and so excited I finally made it! The inside is so cute, they have red and white table cloths and lots of nods to Italy. The staff is also so kind and I was sat right away. For the food we ordered a bottle of red wine for the table, pasta fritto, bruschetta, and insalata caprese. The pasta fritto seemed a little strange to me but it was AMAZING. The caprese was also so flavorful and fresh. For my meal I ordered the chicken Marsala. The vegetable it came with that day was green beans they also were so delicious and fresh. The portion size of the chicken was HUGE and I was able to bring almost half of it home! It was some of the best Marsala I have ever had. For dessert we split tiramisu and carrot cake. I cant decide which was better they were both so amazing. The carrot cake was so flavorful and the tiramisu was fluffy and the best I've ever had. Can't say enough good things about the food! When the bill came I was shocked by how inexpensive it was. We ordered so much food, the portions were so large, and the pricing was so good! I will 100% be back. read more

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This is simply one of the most wholesome and loveliest places. So small and intimate, and the owner comes around just to make sure everything is good. The caesar salad was great, it didn't even last long enough for pictures. If you love anchovies like me, definitely get them added! Pasta Fritto was good, but heavy. I barely touched dinner after that! The sampler is great, I was shocked that my favorite was the eggplant parmesan because usually I wouldn't go for it. Bread pudding was so decadent. Book in advance and prepare for a wonderful evening! read more

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I'd been wanting to go here for a while, but reservations were very hard to come by (which made me even more interested in checking out this very popular spot!). Finally snagged 8 pm Friday night seats. The place is very small and intimate -- not at all fancy (pretty brightly lit, casually decorated) but it does feel homey. We were seated at a small table, and our server was friendly. We ordered the veal Marsala (served with risotto and green beans) and fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp; we also shared the Caesar salad. Everything was well made and flavorful (though I found the green beans a little bland and boring-- they were just a side, though). We also were served complimentary garlic bread, which we appreciated, and we ordered the tiramisu (which honestly was as impressive as I thought it would be, given the restaurant's bakery business -- the coffee flavor didn't come through as much as I'd expect and the ladyfinger portion seemed surprisingly dry). Prices were all quite reasonable, and portion sizes were large, so sharing was perfect (I felt full pretty quickly, especially after the bread). We also ordered a bottle of wine, and didn't feel rushed -- it was a very comfortable and comforting night overall. I'd like to come back with more people and try some of the other entrees and a different dessert (if I can get a table!). read more

I've been here before and had a lovely experience. This visit wasn't quite as great, but the food is always top notch. I made a reservation for 7:30 to celebrate my husband's birthday. We were seated quickly and our waitress quickly brought out some waters. I did feel like they rushed us a bit, you could tell they wanted to close for the night. Each course came out before we had finished the previous. However, they have a nice and inexpensive wine selection! We had a bottle of wine and started with the spinach and artichoke dip which is probably the best I've ever had. The hot pita they serve it with was awesome too. We both got a salad as well and they were great. I wanted to lasagna for my main course but they ran out, which was a bummer. I ended up getting the spaghetti and meatballs and it was awesome. My husband got the gnocchi and it was tasty too. We finished the night with a cannoli and the carrot cake, both of which were delicious. This little spot is so cute, very mom and pop style Italian restaurant. Definitely a must try! read more

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Always very good food & service! Hard to get in without an advanced reservation but that is a very good sign. And now you can stop by the bakery next door after dinner for a take home treat! read more

I loved this little Italian restaurant! Very quaint with a warm friendly atmosphere. The staff was very kind and the food was delicious (I especially loved the Pasta Fritto) I will definitely be returning! read more

Lola & Giuseppe's Trattoria - Pasta Fritto - Italian Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This is without a doubt not only the BEST Italian restaurant in town, but one of the best. Period. It is cozy, the service is perfectly timed, and the food is a pleasure to the palate. Don't leave without cannolis to savor. One of the finest wines in Italy is a Brunello on the menu. Reservations need to be made well in advance. Don't miss this place! read more

I felt a very high level of racism.. The male server had 2 is opportunities to greet me and my husband he never did He spoke to everyone around us at the entrance door but not us. At the end of dinner he checked on the table right next to us but never spoke to us or even looked our way.. One bright spot was our server she was amazing her name is Rihanna. read more

This exceeded my expectations in every way. The food here could easily hold its own with any Italian restaurant in Boston or NY. The owner Steve was going around greeting everyone and checking on the food. You can tell there is a lot of care and love put into the cooking. They serve complimentary garlic bread and it is old school with lots of butter. The chicken marsala had the most flavorful sauce (slightly sweet) and lots of mushrooms. Loved the cheesy risotto it was served with. The salad dressing is homemade and it is incredible. Marinara sauce is some of the best I have ever tried. Portions are big and prices are reasonable. Cannot wait to come back and try dessert. If I lived closer, I would be a regular for sure. Definitely make a reservation. It is very small inside and fills up fast. read more

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