Please get to Maialina right now. This is the epitome of Italian comfort food. I went with two girlfriends and we split a bunch of things (to say the least): parmesan garlic toast, ricotta toast, caprese salad, vodka rigatoni with sausage, chicken parmesan with potatoes, tiramisu, affogato, AND a liter of wine. Whew!!! Oh, and let's not forget the shots of limoncello at the end (not for the faint of heart). Needless to say, I ended dinner with two pant buttons undone. The food was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is casual and unpretentious, but cute for a date night. read more

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My husband and I went for the Summerfest Devour event. Even without the Devour discount, we were impressed with the amount of food we received for the price. The appetizers we chose (cheese bread with Pomo fork and goat cheese/fig jam bread) had 6 pieces each and were very thick. Even one piece of one of them would have been more than enough. The vodka rigatoni with chicken and the chicken parm with spaghetti and pomodoro were phenomenal. We also go chocolate cake and the cheesecake but we're so full, we took them to go. The atmosphere is great for a date night. Sit by the window so you can do some great people watching. Service was busy due to the time and day (Friday at 7:30), but I called ahead about an hour before and they fit me right in with a reservation. Prepare to search for parking! read more

I absolutely love this restaurant! While I love Italian food in general, I rarely go out for it since it's usually overpriced. Personally, I know I could never duplicate the flavors of this bolognese- it has just enough of a kick where it's not spicy but has just pure flavor. Plus there's actually beef in the sauce where it's thick and mixed instead of just sauce with a tiny bit of beef. Their ricotta bruschetta is my favorite appetizer probably in the whole city. You can actually taste each ingredient that's on it from the ricotta, fig jam, thyme, and spicy honey (the big one is spicy honey- it's so hard to taste in food sometimes). You get 3 huge full slices which is more than worth it!! read more

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I went to Maialina with a few friends during devour week! We had a fixed menu with a few choices- I chose the Caesar salad, ricotta bruschetta, gnocchi and beef, and pistachio gelato. Cesar salad & ricotta bruschetta were very good. The bruschetta has a honey glaze to it, I thought the ricotta and honey combo were delicious. Gnocchi and gelato were just okay. Atmosphere was cool & the waitress & staff were very friendly! read more

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My partner and I went to Maialina to celebrate his new job position. The interior is really cute and I'm into the dim lights. Our waiter was very very nice too! We ordered fried calamari for an appetizer and were really disappointed. They were barley fried and the calamari were soggy and squishy. Hard to eat. I should've asked them to take it back, but I didn't, so I take fault in that. But when it came to our main entrees, they were really good! The lasagna specifically was great. Two beers and these three plates cost me alittle over $100, so this isn't necessarily budget friendly. read more

Maialina - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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We tried this place for dinner, and were not disappointed. The Vongole was awesome! I asked for some spice, since red pepper was not listed on the menu, and the chef was spot on. Clam sauce is my favorite, so I judge an Italian restaurant by it, if they dare put it on the menu . The sauce here is more buttery than oily, and worked well for my taste. My wife had the Vodka sauce, and it was very good. I only had a taste, since I was already stuffed from my clams. But I liked it. She really enjoyed it as well. We shared the cheesy garlic bread, and it was ok. The cheese was a little thick and crumby not smooth, more like ricotta. Maybe this is the intention, but I prefer gooey . A great experience, and great service. A great addition to our favorite area of the city. read more

Maialina was on my bucket list for places to try. I am a die hard fan of Italian food and this restaurant did not disappoint. From the cocktails to the appetizers to the entrees, this place was AMAZING! The service was great and the atmosphere was fun for a girls night out. I definitely recommend a cocktail and the bruschetta to start out with. I had the Cacio e Pepe Pasta as my entree and added shrimp. I would definitely order again. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone in the area. read more

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I would've given 4 stars if it was just me but everyone else in our group said 3 (and one said 2). I had the ravioli with sausage and thought it was great, but my mom had the ravioli with no meat and didn't like it. I finished my plate she did not out of not enjoying it. My wife got the vodka pasta and liked it and finished it. Those who got spaghetti and meatballs said it was meh (those were the low ratings) and didn't finish theirs. The shrimp was "meh" and wasn't finished either. Service was not bad, but wasn't anything notable. Overall, it was an average experience for the whole family, not bad not great, somewhere average in the middle. read more

I can't believe this is my first visit. I love Italian restaurants and this one had missed my radar. The space is amazing. Cool vibe and dining areas. We sat at a high top in the bar. The bartender was very engaging and happy to make suggestions. I started with a basil Hayden's cocktail which was nothing short of amazing. We shared the shrimp fondue. Big pieces of shrimp in a rich and creamy cheese sauce heavy on the garlic, served with toast points. The fondue has a good heat level. Wonderful. We also shared a Caprese salad. They used both green and red tomatoes. Good flavors for mid winter tomatoes. I had the stuffed pork. Thinly sliced rolled with a heavy sage stuffing. Crispy outside and tender inside served with a side of spaghetti pomodoro. Others had the gnocchi bolognese and seared salmon. Each were equally delicious. We finished with a lemon torte cake and carrot cake. The lemon isn't overly tart which is both good and a little depressing. Great either way. Check this place out. Outstanding experience. read more

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Best kept secret in Indianapolis. I have dinner here every fourth Sunday of March with the same friend and we have the same server, Jordan, who is amazing. Food 5-+. Service 5+. Just go. Now. read more

Sarah was the absolute sweetest and most attentive bartender and sever I have ever had! She was so knowledgeable about the menu, suggested great things, and was just an angel over all! 100/10!! read more

I love this place. I love italian food and this is the best italian food in Indianapolis. The place can be little loud during busy time, but I still like their environment. The salad is really good, and bruschetta ricotta is amazing. I love their pasta dishes. So far, I tried shrimp primavera (amazing), cacio e pepe (rich, creamy and delish), and Gamberi (fresh and delish). I really loved shrimp scampi but my husband said it was too citrus for him (too much lemon). Their tiramisu is to die for. read more

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Excellent food! Every time I eat here, I'm happy I did. Not to mention they have the best tiramisu. It's a monster piece, and delicious.

Long story short, the quality of the pasta here was good and you can tell it was made fresh but the flavor wasn't phenomenal. The service, however, was great. We started the meal bruschetta w/ricotta and honey which was pretty tasty. We were worried it would be too sweet but I think it was just the right amount. The bread was well baked and had just the right amount of crunch to it. I ordered the caccio e pepe with sausage. The pasta itself was fresh and you can tell it was homemade. The flavors were classic but I cannot say it was the best caccio e pepe I've ever had. My husband ordered the gamberi pasta with shrimp and asked for it to be hot. While it was more flavorful than my dish and a little bit spicier, I would not classify it as "hot". I feel like it just contained more chili pepper seasoning. Again, pasta was homemade. Flavor was good but not great. Overall, I'd go back as it is, arguably, the best pasta in Fountain Square, but I wouldn't make a trip out of coming here like I would with other amazing Italian places in Indianapolis (Mama Carolla's, you're still my favorite). read more

Maialina - Bruschetta w/ ricotta and "spicy honey" - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Maialina is the most CONSISTENT restaurants in Indy. The food and service is always spot on. It's a great spot to come with friends, for business or for a date. Pictures below is from an outing with friends! read more

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The food is outstanding. Everything that hit my tongue exploded with flavor. Garlic Parmesan bread melted in my mouth with each bite. And the Gnocchi Bolognese had a nice kick but did not distract from the flavor. Will be back! read more

Extremely delicious. Highly recommend the garlic parmesean toast and the cacio e pepe.

First and foremost I want to give a huge shoutout to Indy Yelp Squad for giving me the much needed nudge to check out Maialina! This was an amazing spot for our date night. Parking can be a bit tricky but there are plenty of spots near by on the street. The restaurant sits on the corner allowing for a great view of the iconic intersection of Fountain Square. Our waitress was jovial and offered recommendations making our experience a smooth and positive one. We started things off with the Bruschetta Ricotta and were pleasantly surprised by the combination of flavors and textures. I ordered the Gnocchi Bolognese and added extra sausage (I like meaty pastas) and it was sensational and not only would I get it again but would recommend it to anyone coming here. The gnocchi was fluffy and seemed to just melt in my mouth and paired very well with the bolognese. To conclude our meal we ordered a pair of expertly crafted Affogato's (made to look like roses) but sadly I did not get a picture before I devoured it. We had a great time at Maialina and look forward to our next visit. read more

Maialina - Gnocchi Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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I love this place! All the menu that we ordered tasted good and not overpriced. It was perfect for a date night!

Such a gem of an Italian place in fountain square! The gnocchi bolognese portion was so huge and the gnocchi was tender and delicious. Will absolutely be back! read more

Maialina - Gnocchi Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

They had a Valentine's Day special menu and it was very tasty. The atmosphere was laid back and decor was unique. The servers were extremely nice and helpful! We really enjoyed the food and place very much. I plan to go back and try the Aperol Spritz when the weather warms up! read more

Maialina - Fig, goat cheese and hot honey crostini & meatballs..yummy!! - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

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My dish was gross but wife's was ok. I had some toxic green pesto dish. Avoid the green dish!

I have been wanting to try this restaurant for some time. Devour Indy was my moment to travel down to fountain square and give it a try! I LOVED everything about this restaurant. A small Italian restaurant feel with lots of windows. Automatically you felt at home and looking forward to the menu. Ordered from the devour menu and every new item delivered to the table was amazing! Ordered the Bruschette Ricotta and my friend ordered the Garlic Cheese Bread. The Brushcette Ricotta was simply perfection! I will be back just to have this again! The Garlic bread was good but the Brushcetta Ricotta stole the show. I ordered the Caesar salad which was good! No complaints just still thinking about the Brushcetta Ricotta! For my main course I ordered the Cacio e Pepe. This was simple, cheesy, and delightful. My only complaint was I wished the portion was a bit larger. It was exactly what I needed on a snowy day. We ended dinner with dessert which my friend ordered Tiramisu I choose the lemon cake, the Torta Della Nonna. This was light, lemony, and perfect with a cup of coffee. My friend said the Tiramisu was hands down one of her favorites! We will be back for sure!! Got photos of the the appetizer and desserts. Enjoying the pasta and forgot a photo read more

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Don't bother trying this place, walked up at 5:30, the place was completely empty and they claimed all their reservations were going to come in at that time. I can't believe they turned away a paying customer for a maybe reservation. Management needs to work out something were people are able to try this restaurant with out reservations. I'm afraid this place light not last with that kind of attitude! read more

Best Italian restaurant in Fountain Square hands down. Their drink was just the perfect amount of refresh and the food just hit the spot. Go check it out now! read more

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Amazing service and the food is the best in Indy. The front room is a little dark so ask for the back if you prefer more light to read the menu read more

Maialina has been sitting in my "Place I want to try" bookmark for awhile. I finally got my opportunity. I booked my reservation a week ahead. The last few times I tried they were already booked up. Maialina is located in a building with other businesses. It was a little hard to find parking super close, but I ended finding a spot about 3 blocks away on the street. Pay attention to where the front door is I literally walked right passed it. When we walked in I was amazed how spacious it was. The bar is sitting in the middle and there is tables all around. We sat in the back dining area and we could see outside the windows are a decent size. The first thing I had to do was go over the drink list. I picked the Halle Berry because it sounded good. I also ordered the bruschetta for me and my family to share. The bruschetta was amazing. I've tried it at other Italian restaurants but this was by far the best I've ever had. I actually did not like the Halle Berry at all. It was a very strong after taste and I was not happy. I had to let it water down a little to finish it. I also ordered the arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette. Wow this salad was really good and the lemon vinaigrette was not bitter! For my entrée I got the vodka chicken pasta. This pasta is spicy and the waitress did ask what level of spicy I wanted. I went with hot and yes it was hot. However the pasta was just a little dry for me. I really wish it was more of a creamy sauce. If I come back here I doubt I will order that pasta again. The restaurant has a delightful ambiance. This would be a perfect place for date night or girls night out. Make a reservation ahead of time! read more

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Nice space & great pasta! Went with family & a couple friends. We all got something different so we could share. Everything was delicious! I had the vongole, so good! My dad had the cacio de Pepe. My friend had the gamberi & my other friend had the vongole as well. It was a very nice evening with delicious meals! read more

I was so excited to see a new local restaurant open in Fountain Square as I love this little section of our city!! Maialina is an amazing addition to the area. While it looked small from the outside it was no where near small once you get inside. Before visiting I had already checked out their menu and reviews and was excited to order. We went with the Ricotta Bruschetta as an appetizer and I chose the Cacio e Pepe as my entree. I must say I was nervous about the Cacio as reviews were either you liked it or not. I did take one reviewers suggestion and added Shrimp. Let's just say that there was absolutely no reason to be worried!!!!! The Cacio e Pepe was absolute delish and I don't know how they cooked the shrimp but, they were AMAZING!!!!!! Best shrimp I have ever tasted! This is definitely a must order. Now the ricotta bruschetta I wouldn't order again. I didn't read the ingredients fully and totally missed that there was truffle in the ricotta, which I am not a fan of. But that is just a personal preference. Now, if they would added a non truffle ricotta to their tomato version, I would be all over that. For dessert we decided to order two and share. We went with the affogato and a lemon torte. And both were amazing as well!!!! It was a great meal all around. Can't wait to bring family too visit next time they are in town. read more

One of my favorite Italian spots in Indy. Great place for a date or dinner with the girls. Highly recommend the sausage and fig flatbread. The sausage pasta is one of my go to's. Servers are well versed in wine recs. read more

Maialina - Sausage pasta - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

The food was good. Not over priced. The service was really good. I feel like this chef wants to do so much more. All our dishes were good, but I think the chef is capable of more. Next time, I will ask for a chef's choice. We were served promptly and our wait staff were always spot on. Worth the money. Check it out. read more

We came here finally to try their New Year's eve menu. Parking is a little complicated but if you're willing to walk a little bit there's tons of free spots in Fountain Square. It's weird to say this but my favorite thing I ate that night it was actually the spinach salad-it's just so exciting to see a salad that doesn't just have lettuce in it and that you would be happy to eat just by itself as an entrée. The meatballs and carciofi dip we're also very delicious, they give you so much bread with both items that we basically filled ourselves up before the entrées were even out. I got the frutto di mare which I don't know if that is still on the regular menu but I thought it was decent. I wouldn't necessarily come back for it but it was well cooked enough that I would love to try the other pasta options. The seafood in it was very well cooked! Unfortunately they ran out of strawberry tiramisu on the menu and the replacement tiramisu was somewhat coffee flavored which is not something I love in desserts but it was still good. Their cannolis were a little bit hard, I've definitely had better elsewhere. I was as far as classic Italian food goes I don't know that I would rank this above Ambrosia but I think it does have a trendy your vibe that places like Ambrosia can be lacking. I will definitely be returning to sample more of the menu! read more

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WOW!!! Where has this place been all my life ..first please call for a reservation or just wait, you can eat at the bar top. We order the garlic bread appitizer 4 dollars but the marinara they have is from heaven. We got the plain pasta with cheese and garlic it's like Alfredo and that's all we ordered and shared and still took food home. Both of the bartenders were helpful friendly and they smile. Our meal alone 24.00...We will return. read more

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The food and service was fabulous. My new favorite for Italian food. Our party of 4 all really enjoyed our meals. We will return again soon.

They have done a wonderful job recreating the space that it formally was, it felt intimate and cozy. Upon entering I made a verbal notice of the smell, "Oh wow, smells really good in here!" We were seated quickly and were briefed on the specials of the day. We first asked about the proper pronunciation of the restaurant's name, must say, not a good "brand" if people can't figure out how to pronounce it, but not a big deal really. We ordered (what in most restaurants of this price point would be complementary and automatically brought to the table) the "bread plate" $3 (not a bad price for what's free typically!) We received three small plates with oil and parmesan cheese, and a basket with three slices of bread and three rolls. They were warm and pretty decent, no complaints. I opted for the special because it sounded good and not what I would normally order. Sometime later our server came back and told me that the kitchen did not have all of the ingredients for that night's special. Curveball! I opted instead for the lasagna. The server said that was a great choice and that it was a family recipe that was over 30 years old. I noted that the food was taking a bit longer than it should, especially with the restaurant not being very busy on a Monday evening. The food came a short time later. The food looked appetizing, we were offered parmesan for our entrees. It was not freshly grated but rather spooned onto our food by our server from a small bowl. If Olive Garden can freshly grate parmesan over your food, then, by all means, Maialina should think about upgrading (even for presentation purposes!) The parmesan was fine I guess, but I had visions of it coming out of an institutional 10-gallon jug of dried parmesan. The lasagna was not huge and was unremarkable except for the fact that it had both red and white sauce on it, which made it a bit different, which gave two different flavor profiles. A glass of wine, the bread appetizer and my entree topped out at over $30. My fellow dinners noticed issues with their food, nothing so bad as to send them back to the kitchen, a salad with too many croutons, overcooked shrimp, and pasta with too little sauce. I mentioned at the end of the meal that we would have been better off going to Bucca Di Beppo (in terms of food quality.) Maialina has a great atmosphere and if I went back I would probably sit at the bar and just have drinks versus eating dinner there. read more

Maialina - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Food was delicious (got the Shrimp Primavera) and I love the atmosphere there. Can't wait to go back!

Loved coming here for girls night! The restaurant is beautifully redone and restored from its original diner days and the food is incredible! We got the bruschetta Ricotta to split and I got the spinach and cheese ravioli. Both were absolutely delicious! The bruschetta comes with three pieces of thick toast covered in whipped ricotta with a drizzle of spicy honey and dried thyme. The spinach cheese ravioli comes with six pieces of pillowy stuffed pasta in a pesto cream sauce. The menu alone is enough to make you keep coming back! read more

Maialina - Bruschette Ricotta with fig jam, thyme, and spicy honey - Italian Near Me - Indianapolis, Indiana

Another great meal at what has become my favorite Italian restaurant. It has been months since we've been able to eat out, and it was soooooo worth it. We were celebrating our anniversary and it was a given that we would eat at Maialina. We invited our best friends to dinner to help us celebrate. As soon as we walked in, we were sincerely greeted with a "happy anniversary" and it just felt soooo good to be back at Maialina. The menu is currently smaller than usual, but not to fear . . . they still have many of your favorites! We started with the parmesan garlic toast, which was bursting with parmesan flavor and came with marinara sauce, meatballs (oh, the meatballs!), and the calimari (the best in town - not sure how they bread it so lightly and it turns out so crisp yet tender.) Our entrees were chicken parmesan with spaghetti pomodoro, lasagna, and the Gamberi. Amazing lemon gelato and a lemon cake with mixed berries for dessert. Everything was absolutely perfect! We had such a great time! I know some reviews say that the portions here are small and yes perhaps they are smaller than the chain restaurants, but you won't find better Italian food of this fine quality that also includes impeccable service, great atmosphere, and maintains a safe, sanitized restaurant that ensures proper social distancing. We are EATERS, the four of us. Trust me, you will NOT leave here hungry. It's just not possible. And you WILL be dreaming of your next visit. If you want twice as much food that's cheaper and average tasting at best, go to that other place and save $5. We're going to Maialina. read more

I haven't been disappointed the few times I've been here. First of, the drinks are always in point! I've had the Bella Note twice now and each time is made so well. My face drink there aside Isabella. Food wise, the meatballs!!! Omg so good! I don't usually like meatballs at restaurants but these are made some incredible well. Their pastas and their chicken Parmesan is delicious too. They also have gelato, yuuumm! I had their pistachio flavored one during Devour and it was so so good. I'll certainly be returning! read more

We came to try Maialina out as a place we've never been and to celebrate our first anniversary! We made a reservation (which I appreciate more than anyone else because I find so many places in Indy don't take reservations) and upon arrival, we checked in but still had to wait a bit. When we were sat, they had mentioned that we were sitting at their special anniversary table, which I thought was so adorable and thoughtful! However, as we sat waiting for our food/drinks, it was probably the coldest spot to sit at because the vents were right underneath us. Had that not been such a rush and the whole anniversary table thing, I would've asked to move but it was almost too cold. On to the food/drinks: I had to get an Aperol Spritz because it's their specialty and it was so refreshing! We ordered the mussels to share and the sauce complimented the mussels very well. We almost thought about ordering another round as our meal but felt obligated to try the pasta. I've never had Cacio e Pepe and figured since we were at an Italian restaurant, why not tonight? I didn't anticipate it being that heavy/cheesy so it was not my favorite but the pepper helped balance it out a little bit. I would give this place another try because I didn't order something that suited me. I'm not sure if they made their own pasta but my Cacio e Pepe was $12 which I felt was pricey for noodles, cheese, and pepper. read more

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