Could not upgrade my reservation on line so called the restaurant for help. So accommodating! Changed with no problem. We were celebrating a birthday with 11 plus a baby. Our server was fantastic as well as the food. And a plus was half price bottles of wine on Wednesdays! The cannolis were amazing! Thank you! read more

I'd say this is probably the most authentic Italian restaurant you'll find anywhere in Southern Indiana. We went with a large group, and just about everyone liked what they had. The ravioli got rave reviews from the two that got them, as did the carbonara. I got a pizza and enjoyed it, though it got pretty scorched in the oven. Portion sizes were not a problem, either. The restaurant itself is small and cozy, which made for a nice, intimate setting, but the lack of tables made for a long wait for those who hadn't been seated. Ultimately, it's definitely worth a try, but you'll want to set up a reservation in advance. read more

We got in and the servers were very nice. The food was very good. They had a nice grape drink and a nice pasta sauce.When they got us to our seats we were all feeling very happy because it felt like it was a horse stables. The ambiance was cozy and festive. read more

I am not familiar with Bloomington but was visiting for football game and this was my friends pregame recommendation!! Street parking was a dollar an hour!! I love it. The restaurant is not real big and sets back on street from nicks. I mention nicks bc there is some type of relationship here. Though it's not big I felt we were able to have a quiet conversation. The menu is not extensive, but the quality is impressive. I ordered the eggplant rollatini and shared a tiramisu. For the eggplant entree, the five cheeses are rolled up in the eggplant. It was crispy on outside. Pic of half of dish is attached; I got caught up in the conversation. The entree was amazing. I paired it with their chianti, it was nice. I enjoyed the tiramisu but the star was the eggplant entree read more

Osteria Rago - Menu - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

GREAT CUISINE, BUT CHILLY SERVICE ============================== REVIEW #803 Finally made a reservation after being declined three months before for dinner on Indiana University's graduation day on May 8th. Then we ended up going a couple days after graduation after I made a reservation for four. At the last minute my husband invited someone else to join us and the hostess would only give us an extra chair for our table for four. We constantly had to wait for things like wine glasses or anything else. Only four people were drinking wine and they did not have enough glasses. Also, the whole time we were dining there was an empty table for two right next to us that they could have added to our table, but they refused after I asked. read more

Osteria Rago - Eggplant rollatini - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

I've had pizza, pasta, appetizers, salads, wine, a good chunk of the menu here... but I still always return! Absolutely delicious Italian, by far the best in Bloomington. It's tucked in ally behind Tracks and parking can be tricky. Best bet is to find street parking and walk back there. It's pretty small inside as well so if you know you'll be going during a busy time, I'd make a reservation. Service has always been great. The pizzas are my absolutely favorite. The crust is AMAZING and so fluffy and fresh. Fresh mozzarella and authentic ingredients make every dish so flavorful. The charcuterie board was a perfect app for us 3 women. The house salad was good too. Easily able to split between 2 people. The pasta is also so tasty too. I've yet to go wrong here. Favorite spot in Bloom!! read more

Osteria Rago - Charcuterie Board - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Stopped at this quaint little spot while touring Bloomington and Indiana University with our daughter. We were all looking for some Italian food and this definitely hit the spot. Situated in an old carriage house, it's not the roomiest of places but can handle a decent crowd. Everyone working wore masks and they were good with COVId precautions. And now the meals.... The pasta Aioli olio, while hard to pronounce was excellent. Garlic, olive oil, pepper and bread crumbs with homemade pasta was fantastic. It was a light meal but more than enough. The bruschetta was delicious, but if you're not into basil, ask them to go easy as there was a lot. Tomatoes were great. The spaghetti and meatballs is my standard during a first trip to an Italian restaurant. It seemed like a small portion but appearances are deceiving; there were six (!) meatballs and the sauce and noodles were perfect. The pizza was good, though my daughter thought it was a bit undercooked. All in all a great meal and reasonably priced. Pauline, our waitress, was great. Very nice and helpful in navigating the menu. read more

See all

I went here a year ago on a date and really enjoyed the food. I went back with my family and was sorely disappointed. My brother's meatballs were completely inedible and my dad's chicken Parmesan lacked much flavour. The service was also terrible. We asked for extra Parmesan and never got it. The only reason it's not one star is because somehow they did a decent job on my meal, but even then it was not spectacular to be brutally honest. read more

First eating at Osteria. We had a margherita pizza for appetizer. Them Cacio e Pepe with chicken, Carborana and Ravioli with ragu sauce. Everything was absolutely delicious!! Service was very friendly and professional. Highly recommend! read more

Great little place with a super fun atmosphere! We have been here several times and have always been happy with the experience. Food is delish, service is great and the location although downtown feels like a hidden gem. read more

Osteria Rago - Sat by the front door facing the kitchen area - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Outstanding service, outstanding atmosphere, outstanding food! Tomatoes Vesta is one of the best appetizers I have ever eaten. Ours came with some confit garlic that wasn't listed on the menu description but it elevated it so nicely. The carbonara was delicious. Creamy sauce and perfect guanciale. Finished with tiramisu. Perfect meal! read more

We try to east here every time we visit IU. The food is fresh and delicious, and the service is always friendly and attentive. It can be tough to get a reservation since it's a small place, so plan accordingly! read more

Absolutely the best Italian. Homemade pasta. Great wine. Nice small place with great service.

My son and I were there to celebrate his birthday. Everyone was very courteous and professional. The food quality was great along with the portions. We very much enjoyed our meals. No doubt we will return. It would have been nice if they served a nice crusty Italian bread with the meal. read more

3 stars for the pizzas, 2 stars for the seating and ambiance, 1 star for the service/hostess. During my last visit, we were turned away by the hostess during lunch hour, and it was empty. Her excuse was that they would be busy for dinner. What? Thanks for Da Vinci, I can have great pizzas and pastas, and excellent service when I visit Bloomington. read more

Amazing Food Choices. Busy because because it's really good. Great Wine selection and seating in a little limited.

My 1st time to Osteria Rago and it did not disappoint. I went with a party of 6 and ordered the pizza of the month (Bacon, Prosciutto, Caramelized Apple, Honey) which came with 30% discount on any bottle of wine. It was phenomenal pizza that went great with the Daou Cabernet Sauvignon. The pesto pasta was great. It came with basil and was very tasteful. The noodles were very refined and the grilled chicken went well with the pasta. The service was exceptional but it did take around 30-35 minutes for our entrees to come out. Highly recommend making a reservation as this one of the top tier Italian restaurants in Bloomington. read more

Osteria Rago - Pesto Pasta - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Yowza! We were vacationing in nearby Nashville, Indiana when we decided to head to Bloomington to have some fun with the kids at Urban Air. We played hard and worked up an appetite. My husband is partial to Italian, so we ended up at Osteria Rago. We followed the GPS but couldn't find it. It's tucked away and totally hidden in the alleyway. We are so glad we kept looking! We ordered the half sized charcuterie board. It was mostly picked vegetable; peppers, olives, pickles, artichoke, asparagus, celery, and cauliflower. Good, but seriously spicy. There was also a few pieces of cheese, meat and bread slices. Good but if you have picky eaters I wouldn't get it. All our entrees were amazing. Service was not great though. We had to flag our server down to request water and again later we had to flag her down to request salt. read more

See all

Our server, Emma was very friendly, kind, attentive and professional. It was quite a busy night, but she took it all in stride and looked like she really enjoyed her job. She was never frazzled, was always smiling. The food was very delicious. We were invited with some long time friends who live nearby, who suggested Osteria Rago for dinner. Next time we're in town, we'll definitely return. Many thanks to Emma and the chef(s). read more

Second time eating here and we had a fabulous meal, yet again! We split the Chicken Marsala and the Tomatoes Vesta which was fire roasted cherry tomatoes, lemon ricotta, arugula, balsamic reduction and house-made focaccia. My son had the Margherita pizza and loved it. We will be back! read more

See all

Nestled in the alley by Nick's, this is a hidden gem. Go for the food and it was fresh, nicely prepared, tasted great and reasonably priced. Atmosphere not the best with plastic table cloths and cheap seating and settings. Like I stated, it's the food that brings you back. read more

See all

I had a Christmas date with my bestie a few weeks ago ! I had a gift card from work to Osteria Rago, so we went and tried it out ! We both had a Boylan Craft crème soda ! It was super yummy and that alone would get me to to back for more. We also both had house made pasta dishes ! I chose the spaghetti and meatballs. For the price, the dish was on the tiny side. It made up for it in how it filled me up and tasted absolutely delicious on top of that ! read more

Osteria Rago - Spaghetti with Rago's Meatballs - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

We had a wonderful meal last night at Osteria Rago. The service was excellent, the food was delicious. My only suggestion is if you're wanting to have comfortable conversation sit inside and not the patio. When the patio is full it's hard to hear each other. read more

Osteria Rago - Eggplant Rollatini - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

Went on a Sat afternoon for my son's birthday without reservations, very plain decor, unimpressive. Service was great, music was way too loud but they turned it down for us which was so appreciated. Prices were a bit high for the small serving sizes - ravioli was very good as was the pizza but the lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs were average at best. Salads are ala carte, dinners came with only a small slice of bread. Probably won't go back but it's always good to visit new places. read more

The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, the food was delicious and the service was outstanding! The restaurant happened to be out of ice tea the evening we were there and the waiter, without hesitation, went next-door to get iced tea for us. Amazing experience! Would highly recommend.! read more

We were extremely excited to try this restaurant, however we were turned away because we didn't have a reservation and were told a table wouldn't be open before they stop seating. They do not do a waitlist either, therefore a reservation is clearly required. We circled the block hoping a table would get up and we could be sat, but after 8:15pm they don't seat anyone. We had no idea a nice Italian restaurant in a college town would stop seating people at 8:15pm ON A FRIDAY! The hostess was very sweet and we knew it wasn't her fault. We were desperate but they just wouldn't accommodate us, very sad. If you want any chance eating here, make a reservation! So ridiculous. read more

Certainly the best Italian food in Bloomington. They make their pasta fresh and you can certainly tell. Personally my favorite is the aglio e olio. Wine selection isn't great but can definitely find something decent. They stay pretty booked, so highly recommend making a reservation. Service is good and quick. The ambiance feels pretty old school but not in a way that's old or rundown, more so just home-y. If you're wanting Italian in Bloomington there really is no better choice. read more

We loved this Italian restaurant! Very authentic, the food was delicious, and the service was great! read more

Osteria Rago - Aglio e Olio - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I went there with my wife and a friend. Their food was really good. My mistake was, I ordered the Wild Mushroom Pizza. Neither the pizza nor the mushrooms were wild. It a was so poorly made. I couldn't eat it with my hands or a fork and knife. The waitress didn't bother to ask how it was. If she had, I would have given her an earful. I've had pizza from a gas station that was better than this. Again, the rest of the meal was really good. They should just give up on the pizza. read more

The service was nice! I was a bit late to the table but it was completely fine! You HAVE to make a reservation otherwise the wait is very long. I was seated near the bathroom near wine bottles and this area was very dark. Hopefully next time I can be seated in the yellow room? The Eggplant Rotellini was surprisingly filling! I liked the crunchy parts. This was pretty pricy and the hours of the restaurant differ. read more

Osteria Rago - Eggplant Rollatini - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This is the best thin crust pizza in town since King Dough was forced out. I'm incredibly happy with their mushroom and their margarita. Can't speak to their meat pizzas - I don't do that. The only fail on pizza I've had there was the Bruschetta pizza (and our server comped us after inquiring how we liked it) which was soggy from so much liquid (balsamic) on the top. We were told it was very popular, though. Good, fresh, salads - fairly straightforward. Some nice reds on the wine list. On the not-pizza front, I've only had the eggplant, which was also quite good. The space is dark, mostly, with a lighter side room. It's a little cold, and slightly loud, but it's one of the few places you can actually hear your table mates conversation. Not quiet by any stretch, but good enough. Very friendly service, but sometimes they get stretched a little thin. And they've never gotten an order mixed up. So, worth a shot. Or three. read more

Pasta was fresh, service was great, they even accommodated an extra 2 people to our 6 at the last minute. Food was really good, wine was great. Price was much better than I expected in that area. read more

Your tastebuds called and they want to go to Osteria Rago. Trust me. Your wallet agrees, too. I'm not one to go out for Italian food, but when I heard about this place, saw their menu, AND the prices, I was dying to try it. It did not disappoint! It's in the old BloomingFoods building behind Nick's. I think it had a few dedicated parking spots, but I could be wrong. Sadly they were out of the Salmon Mousse with Toast Points appetizer, but I'll try to catch that one another time. I had the bucatini with meatballs. My colleague had fettuccini Alfredo with salmon. We both agreed that our dishes were delicious! We shared a tiramisu and I had a glass of wine. Service was excellent. I would absolutely spend my next carb night here and suggest that you do the same. read more

Osteria Rago - Bucatini with meatballs - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

This meal was a 3.5 but I'll round up cause I know they can be great. Forgot the name of the Pizza but I absolutely do not recommend that one. The fettuccine was good but such a small portion. Prices are reasonable. read more

Osteria Rago - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

See all

Osteria Rago catered an after hours networking event for my work this week. To say the food was amazing would be an understatement. The variety of options - from fruit to salad to lasagna to fried green tomato sandwiches to salmon dip to so much more - was incredible. Our guests were amazed at the variety, but more importantly the quality and taste. Ian and Amy were excellent to work with for catering. They made the process smooth and the evening so memorable. Run - don't walk - to Osteria Rago for your catering needs. A work lunch? A private gathering? A wedding reception? Whatever it is, you will not be disappointed! read more

We came here twice in one weekend, and everything was delicious. We had multiple pastas, a pizza and the most fantastic Caesar salad I've ever had. Emory, our server both times, was delightful. We will be back! read more

3.5!! Good for Bloomington Italian. It's eons better than Olive Garden, but definitely not the best I've had. No, I haven't been to Italy but Los Angeles, CA is quite saturated with Italian restaurants so I've had my fill! While they tried to post signage outside of Nick's, it was still a bit hard to find. But, it's down the alley (next to the IU sports/clothing store that's next to Nick's). Came for dinner & we had the: *Amatriciana Bucatini (guanciale in an organic tomato sauce) - this was the best dish! Good al dente bucatini + the sauce was fantastic. The guanciale added a bit of a crisp + heat to the dish. At $13, I wish the portions were a bit larger. *Florentine Pizza (crimini mushrooms, spinach, roasted garlic, red onion, bechamel sauce, and Rago blend) - It was fine. If you want a good artisan pizza in town, I still recommend King Dough. *Bacaro Terre Siciliane Nero d'Avola - we split a bottle of wine. I don't know much about Italian wines, but I enjoyed this one! Our server was nice enough to let us sample this and the Chianti. Dining crowd seemed older and our server even mentioned that there aren't a lot of students that frequent this establishment. So, if you need a reprieve from the undergrads on Kirkwood, try Osteria! I'll be back to try some more pasta offerings for good measure. 80/365 read more

Finally got the chance to try Osteria Rago! I've been wanting to go for months now but haven't had the chance to. Osteria Rago has an interesting location, with its front entrance way in an alley between a few stores in Kirkwood. Although being in an alley, there is parking. I went during Thursday lunch time and there weren't many people there yet. Waitress was very welcoming and her hospitality was friendly and laidback. It made me feel at ease and as if I was eating at a friend's house. My friend and I wanted to try out as many foods as we could, since we weren't sure of when the next opportunity was. We ordered the polenta bites to share as an appetizer. I love all types of mushrooms and I love how they tasted but the bottom part of the bites started off just blend cornbread. I wish that had more flavor to it complement the mushrooms. I ordered the carbonara pasta dish, which looked small when I first glanced at it. It actually had a lot of pasta in it. However, I was a little disappointed to only see small bits of pork in it and that it was very salty. Best part were the cannolis. We got two different flavors and being my first time trying it, I was very impressed but the flaky but crispy exterior and the creamy, flavor filling. read more

See all

Osteria Rago has been a great place for recent date nights and for parents visiting. Pasta is incredible but we also had the arugula pizza and tomato vesta appetizer, which were both great. Half off wine Wednesdays can't be beat! read more

I've been trying to come here since my Sophomore son has been at IU. It looks so authentic on the outside and had good reviews in the past. It was very hard to get a reservation so I thought I was missing something special all of this time. I finally got a reservation for my son who is at IU and my other son who traveled to Bloomington with me from Purdue. It was fun watching IU football improve to 5-0. Unfortunately I can't give this restaurant 5 or even 4 of anything. It's a 3 star at best. Even though we had reservations for months we were stuck in the back corner of the less enticing back room. The waitress was nice but very pushy to turn the table. The bruschetta appetizer was very average and came with very little bread to put it on. We asked for more which they obliged. We had two very average pasta dishes and 1 sandwich that was average as well. We all thought we could make better pasta dishes ourselves at home. My IU son and I kept thinking about all of the other great restaurants in Bloomington and were disappointed that we didn't get to show my Purdue son the great cuisine Bloomington has to offer. The recent lower rated reviews are spot on. This feels like a has been. I wish it wasn't. I really want there to be a great Italian restaurant here in Bloomington. Disappointed and hoping to hit one of the other many great spots in Bloomington next time. read more