When I think of cafe, I think of a casual place. Well, I was mistaken with Marcello's. Came in my shorts and flip flops and felt very under dressed! This place is definitely more restaurant than cafe. I was looking for a quick meal so all I ordered was the shrimp pepate and a side of spinach. The pasta dish was decent, a lot of garlic (I love garlic) but it was roasted garlic so it didn't leave such a bad garlicky breath afterwards. Didn't try any of the wines but it seems like they have quite a selection. We were seated next to a wine rack and I noticed a few bottles priced over $150. Wow, glad I didn't accidentally knock anything off. read more

Best Italian food, wine and service in Acadiana; very consistent time and time again.

Easily the best Italian and one of the best overall that Lafayette has to offer. The red sauce is real good and has a subtle sweetness that makes you want more. But it's the caramel custard dessert that brings us back. Some think the corkage is high, but it sure beats paying the typical restaurant wine mark up. Service is attentive and unobtrusive. read more

I have seen this place a number of times, but tried it for the first time last night. I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. We went for a family birthday and they warmly accommodated our table of 9. As a side note, we were charged an 18% gratuaity due to the size of our party, which I gladly paid, as the service was great. We had a few appetizers. Honestly, I couldn't tell you what any of it was, since it was all fried. Wasn't extremely impressed, but it was not bad. Only one of us had a drink other than water. Their wine selection, as you would expect, is unbelievable. You have the option to buy any bottle of wine and have them open it for a $10 corking fee on top of the bottle price. My wife and I shared a Caprese salad which was absolutely phenomenal and was plenty to share. The olives were exceptional. My wife and I also shared an entree. We had the bolognese which was great as well. I will not that they did split our salad and entree on two plates to accommodate our sharing. The rest of the table got dessert. We sampled each of them and all were especially exceptional. Not sure what it was, but there was a caramel dessert that would make a trip to this place worthwhile alone. When we received our checks, we were surprised that we were charged a total of 4 dollars to plate our food separately. Not a huge deal, but was just a surprise. I will definitely go back to Marcello's to try more things. Excellent food, great service, and the wine selection you would expect from the Marcello's name. read more

I would venture to say that Marcello's is the best restaurant in Lafayette. It is most certainly the best Italian place. Tonight my husband and I celebrated our anniversary here and they made sure everything was perfect. The staff somehow managed to run like a well oiled machine, and despite every table being full our food came out in a timely manner. We have never had anything less than a 5 star visit to Marcello's. Great ambiance, professional and talented staff, and amazing food. All together we have tried almost everything on the menu and the compassion of the kitchen and freshness of the ingredients show. The mussel appetizer is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten. The food is on the pricier side, but you can taste why. Marcello's is the perfect date or family night out. read more

Nice ambience, great wine selection and the food was solid. Service was also very good.

Food and atmosphere is very good. Great place to bring a date and enjoy a glass of wine and pleasant conversation.

I heard so many good things about this place, yet my first visit was not that great of an experience. I like the quaint, dimmed atmosphere. The staff was somewhat attentive. It seems like a place for regulars where new diners might be taken less care of. I ordered the chicken parm which was soggy, and the cheese was almost hard. I was honestly not impressed with all I had heard. The glass of merlot helped with the bland, soggy taste. I was in a large group, and they mostly agreed the quality was not what they had heard of Marcelos. I might go back with just one other person or by myself. I don't want to stress the kitchen. read more

We brought our newborn baby to dinner with us,so, we sat outside in case she cried. Having small children, it's rare we get to go out and this was special for us. We arrived, and while the baby slept, we sat at our table. The baby was sound asleep and the waiter came out and kicked the seat on accident. He didn't harm the baby, but he woke her up. She started screaming and crying. I picked her up and began feeding her to try to get her back to sleep. The waiter didn't even apologize. In fact, he giggled a little. I was so put off by him that no matter how good the food may have been, I couldn't have noticed. The food wasn't worth the price on the menu. The noodles were flavored with butter and garlic and the amount of lobster was negligible. Very plain. Too much garlic. Terrible service. read more

Great Meal. Huge selection of wine. You can either browse through the wine collection yourself and pick a bottle or ask your waiter. The food was delicious. I had the spaghetti with meatballs. Meatballs were made with veal and were amazing. Small and intimate, just like the family restaurants you too may have visited in Italy. Owned and managed by first generation Sicilians, this place is legit. read more

Had the duck with a pear glaze once and fell in love with the dish. Was so sad when I found out that it was only a specialty item that had gone away. There are not many tables since more than half of it hold the alcohol. Very good food and flavors you won't find anywhere else! read more

We were seated next to an obnoxious "Regular Customer ". When asked to be moved none of the managers or owners bothered to check on us or apologize. Most establishments would have offered to comp an appetizer or cocktail, but not this restaurant. The food is good , but not worth the money if you can't enjoy a relaxing meal. read more

So good. If you're trying decide between Marcello's and Ruffino's, pick Marcello's. Great atmosphere too. Our waitress, Alia was awesome and helpful with navigating the menu. We loved everything we ordered. read more

Fantastic!! Calamari is perfectly cooked and seasoned! Pasta is delicious!!! Seafood soup was out of this world! Dessert & cappuccino was so great. Can't wait to go back for more!!!! My favorite Italian restaurant in Louisiana to date! And did I mention the wines? Yum read more

A very good Italian meal. Ok, we don't like Frank Sinatra but never mind. They take reservations now. We made one, walked in, table was ready. Service was prompt, food was delicious, priced right. read more

my veal marsala, the veal was nice tender but the sauce was very dark and no taste like marsala sauce, seems like they using rough for gumbo. its ruined the whole meal. my daughter order pasta with oyster she said wasn't good so I taste it ooh my God who's doing the cooking 4-5 stars restaurant can't cook simple meal. I can cook better then that. the reason we going to go there to treat my son's for his birthday and then we never been to that restaurant before so why dont we try it but his meal just like mine too. when i read the menu made me miss Italy because the food its so good over there. I was disappointed it in this restaurant. read more

My husband and I went tonight to celebrate my birthday weekend! As newbies, the pork cheek Marsala and chicken cacciatore were recommended by our waitress! Both did not disappoint! The pork cheek Marsala was beautifully tender and the chicken cacciatore was so flavorful and hearty! I loved that it was served with pappardelle. We also had the bresaola which simply melted in your mouth and the dressing and eggplant croutons on the Caesar salad were absolutely divine! read more

Arguably the best Italian restaurant in Lafayette. Four of us have been going there together for years and all are happy every time. Both the good and service are consistently good and the menu offers something for everyone. read more

This was our first visit and we were celebrating my wife's Birthday. The restaurant is cozy and has a nice vibe to it. We got there a little early and had a drink at the bar which was on the smaller side but for the restaurant size it was perfect. We got seated right on the time we reserved and overall the food was good. The mozzarella bites were really good as were the wine and mixed drinks we tried. Probably the only holdback from 5 stars was the waiter service. If this was a mid range burger joint he did fine, but we must have waited 15 minutes before we got the water we asked for and at the end of the meal I noticed bread and oil on many tables. I said "was that on the appetizer lists, I didn't see it". He replied that it's "free" but you have to ask for it. I replied that "it would have been nice to get that offered when we sat down or with my veal parmesan". I'm not sure he "got it" and he should have been trained better or asked if it was our first visit. Besides that the experience was good and we may return again. The service is still behind what we are used to at the top level restaurants in the area but we may give it one more try. read more

Sneaky upcharges I came here while in town for business and ordered what I thought was an overpriced spaghetti and meatballs at $17. The waitress suggested that I have the bolognese sauce with it, so I did. Turns out that the sauce change was $7 extra. The food itself was fine, nothing that would justify $24 for spaghetti and meatballs though. read more

I went in to the bar for a quick meal. The restaurant was busy for a weeknight, which is always a good sign. The bartender was friendly and attended to me right away. Since they were out of the pork cheek, I settled for the veal marsala. Then I perused the wine list by the glass and found the list to be quite good. I ordered what was referred to as Sergio Meritage red blend by the glass. The wine was very good. I asked to see the bottle and discovered the bottle did not contain the Meritage label. So, the menu was misleading in that sense. But, regardless, the wine was good. I ended up buying a bottle, specially because it was on sale. Shortly after my veal marsala arrived. The accompany pasta with garlic sauce was excellent. But the veal was OK. The sauce was thick, very sweet, and may not have used good quality wine. I did not think the dish measured up to its cost Overall, I had a ok experience, but nothing to rave about. The bartender was very attentive and made up for whatever little disappointment I had with the food. read more

Get the mac n cheese appetizer, and cannoli for dessert. Superb!

I stopped by one night looking for a good Pinot noir. I was greeted by Marcello and he directed me to an exquisite import. This is the place for imported wines. read more

Wonderful food! The service was excellent..........and the wine was remarkable! This may be our regular date night location. Reservation is a MUST here! read more

Marcello's is one of our favorite restaurants, certainly our favorite Italian restaurant in Lafayette. Tonight we waited 20 minutes for a table, not unusual for a Friday night. 90 minutes after being seated, shortly before they closed, we finally were served our entrees. We got one simple 'sorry, we had a large group tonight'. Their food is delicious, but this service is totally unacceptable. read more

Underrated romantic spot. The dessert is a must and the antipasto plate is a bargain.

My fiance took me to dinner for my birthday. I had the Eggplant Molli. My fiance had the special Quail. Both very good !! This was our second time eating here. Just so happened that we had same server Keith, very attentive good sense of humor. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This was our first time dining at Marcello's. I have to say I was very impressed. I'd have given Marcello's 4.5 stars if there was the option. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is because my wife and I were sat at 4 person table that really shouldn't have had four chairs and was right at the door by the hostess register. Thankfully we were able to mentally block out the numerous patrons waiting for a table. As far as the service, our waiter Steven was very much on top of things and never forgot about us. I had the Chairman's Filet with Parmesan potatoes and grilled asparagus. The demi-glacé was amazing! My wife had the off menu special which was shrimp and lump crabmeat over pasta. She thought it to be too rich for her taste but I tried it and thought is was good. Our food was served rather quickly I thought, especially ordering a steak. Both dishes were hot unlike at some places where one dish is prepared too soon before the others. I'm glad a friend recommended it to us, what he calls his favorite Italian restaurant in Lafayette. Being Of Sicilian heritage, I'm usually not a fan of Italian restaurants since nothing usually compares to my Grandmother's cooking which I was raised on, maybe that's why I went with the steak, but Marcello's is a very nice place to dine. I wouldn't recommend it for children though there were plenty there, simply because of the small menu and it is a bit pricey for kids that usually waste food, but I highly recommend it for a place to have a date night with the wife! read more

Had my birthday lunch today here, and the food was just as good as it always is. I had the WOP salad, and it was the right combination of flavors. I recommend it if you want somethung on the lighter side. The waiter didn't know how to pronounce a few of the dishes, but he was polite and attentive. An excellent place to celebeare with family. read more

Great lunch. Ate a daily special. Chicken Rosa, grilled checked served on cooked spinach with caper sauce

So far my absolute favorite restaurant while I have been up in Lafayette! I like that you can walk around and pick out your bottle of wine and bring it to the table for your dinner. I got the veal on my last trip and it was to die for! Melt in your mouth good. The mussel appetizer is excellent as well. Heading back again tonight if that gives you any inclination as to the delicious food they have! read more

We had dinner at Marcellos to celebrate my Birthday on a Friday night. The dilemma with Marcellos is what wine to pick! So many awesome choices! Fortunately our waitress suggested a wine that they just started carrying and we decided to try that one. It was an excellent choice! For starters we had we had the antipasti board. It was delicious! The olives, eggplant, and roasted garlic were my favorites while the cheeses and salamis came in a close second. I had the eggplant parmigiana and my date had the lamb ragu. Both dishes were well done. You could actually taste the eggplant; the breading, sauce and cheese were the right amount. As for the lamb, it was cooked to a perfect medium rare and had a great flavor. For dessert we each had the anna tutti. I love this stuff and it was just as good tonight as it was every other time that I have had it! What a great way to bring in another year! read more

Best Italian food in Lafayette and a great wine selection. The corking fee is a bit steep, but the food, service, and ambience make it worth the price. read more

Had a highly enjoyable meal here. I had great service despite what some of the other reviews said. I had the Chicken Molli, capers, artichokes, wine and butter sauce, and my only complaint was that the butter sauce that made the chicken so favorable wasn't poured over the pasta as well... Or the entire plate for that matter. Would definitely come back here the next time I'm in Lafayette. read more

Pains me to write this, because I've been eating there for years and generally always had excellent food and service. That being said, whoever the manager is with the Win Butler haircut was on Christmas Eve, here's his one star. read more

I am disappointed that they serve milk-fed veal. The waiter LAUGHED when I explained the inherent cruelty involved in this meat. Not fun for the calves who are chained by the neck for up to 20 weeks ( often within hours after birth) and fed the milky substances before being shipped off to slaughter. They can't move around because the meat would not be so pale and tender. Marcello's could do the right thing and remove this from the menu. read more

This was my first visit to Marcello's Wine Market Cafe. I've been in their wine store on Johnston St. many times, and was looking forward to trying out the cafe. It's a Friday night around 8:30, and the place is busy. Our party of 3 was seated immediately and presented menus. After looking over the menu for some time, a woman (probably a manager, since she was not dressed as a waiter) came by and asked if we wanted to place a drink order. We opted for a bottle of Cabernet, and she immediately fetched 2 bottles from the racks. We selected one, and she went away, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, our waitress comes by our table, asks if we would like something to drink. We tell her we have already placed our drink order, so she leaves, also never to be seen again. Never was any water poured or bread put on the table. During most of this time, the owner is at the end of the bar, facing our table, probably 10 or 15 feet away from us. He is sipping a drink and chatting on his cell phone. We wait some more. The group at the table next to us finishes their meal and leaves, their table is cleared and reset, and a new party of 4 is seated. Their waiter shows up immediately and takes their drink order. At this point, we decide to leave. We walk past the owner (still on his cell phone), through the dining room, past the hostess and out the front door. Only when we were at the door does the owner come rushing up and asks us what is wrong. I explain, he asks for a chance to make it right. By this point, we are pretty aggravated by the chain of events, and decide to leave. Can't comment on the food, because I've never tasted it, but the service is beyond bad....it is indifferent, even if you are at a prominent table in full view of the owner and management. Definitely not going back. read more

Had a second meal here and was impressed again with the food, the wine, and the general ambience. First time, the service was warm, friendly, and just right. It was our anniversary and I couldn't have chosen a better place. Second meal was fine from a food-and-wine perspective, all were top-notch. The service at the second meal was rushed, as though the waiter wanted us the hell out of there as soon as he could. He kept rushing us and then kept apologizing for rushing us, very annoying. We'll definitely be back, but this second experience drew the one star off the rating. We'll see if the next time can bring it back to five. read more

I have NEVER had a bad meal at this restaurant. The owner and his staff always make you feel at home and welcome. First class service. Superb wine selection. If you bring your own, no corking fee. Wonderful, small but varied menu, and they will cook anything they have to your liking - Want the Veal Palermo but with no breading? No problem. The mussels appetizer is worth the entire visit, although the antipasto tray runs a close second. That sauce! And the dessert tray is a delicious diabetic coma ensemble. Seriously, you deserve to try this restaurant. Best I have been to anywhere. Highly recommended. read more

Well, Marcello's has always been a very classy place, that is until today. I have never, ever felt so disrespected and disgraced. I was attending a business lunch and this waitress had the nerve to make extremely vulgar and lewd comments to the men at my table. Then she would disappear each and every time we needed something. This waitress has no business working at such a reputable establishment. The food was wonderful, wish I could say the same for the service. read more