Best Italian in town. Go here if you like Italian cuisine. Service has been good in my experience. Get a reservation if you are visiting on a weekend or anytime students are in town. read more

Two meals there so far and both have been excellent. Great salad, great pizza and great service. read more

Tried Rago today for breakfast, first time visit. We arrived around 10:30am and breakfast ends at 11am on Friday, so we were just in time for the last breakfast of the day. When we arrived we were the only two diners. A couple staff members were sitting at a table and the owner (Rago himself) was there too. The menu for breakfast is limited (this is more of a dinner spot) and we chose a frittata and the "American" breakfast which is eggs, potatoes and meat. The frittata was huge. Large enough for two people. It was okay, but it needed salt and pepper and it was a bit too dry (perhaps overcooked?) on the inside. It had peppers, onions and potato in it. It was supposed to have bacon in it too but if it did, I completely missed it. Jean's eggs were done to perfection and she loved the home fried potatoes. The jam for the bread is those little packets like you would find at a diner, which was sort of surprising given the upscale nature of the restaurant. The other thing that is lacking a bit is the level of service. I realize it was breakfast and not dinner with wine, etc. However, the server was just not quite with it. There was something sort of disconnected about the service. Nice enough guy but the level of service was not on par with Lennie's or Upland. (and those restaurants are not cloth napkin places like Osteria Rago is.) I plan to try Osteria Rago again, hopefully for lunch and will update my review when I do. read more

Osteria Rago - Frittata and English muffin. - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Did this for lunch, though I think the lunch menu was pretty much the same as the dinner menu (though there was a soup + sandwich option). The food was good, but it's overpriced. $17 for Carbonara is fine, but for that price I should have a huge plate of pasta, not be able to finish it all in a relatively short sitting. Will be back, probably, but not for a while. Just for reference, The Elm also does Cacio Pepe... for $12, not $16. read more

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

You MUST go here! The food is always on point and authentic! The atmosphere is nice and can get a little loud when busy but don't let that stop you!! The staff are attentive and friendly especially Ally and Lauren! Pasta is made fresh and all food locally sourced which my husband and I love! Great for all occasions or no occasion at all! Take a ride to see Bloomington and make this part of your visit. Strongly suggest reservations especially Thursday- Saturday and when IU is in session. read more

Amazing sauces and all around flavor to savor. Well executed and so fresh. Dinner date is top for this

We showed up without a reservation and all of the tables were full. The waitress worked with us so that we could be fit in to the schedule. Osteria has great service and the food is amazing! The waitress recommended the eggplant rollatini which is its house favorite. It was delicious! read more

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An average Italian restaurant at best. My chicken parm was bland and burnt and my son's spaghetti was terrible. The meatballs were inedible. The service was mediocre as well read more

Overpriced and portions are normal sized. Alfredo we got was very oily. Ravioli was good but did not like how they pre-buttered my bread. From a place that looked very Italian, I expected oil and balsamic. I like the atmosphere inside. It did a decent job of making it feel like a restaurant in Italy (I've been to Rome twice). Very friendly staff and service. If I go back, I want to try the pizza because the photos look amazing. read more

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Really enjoyed my first visit here and plan to return. Excellent service and a nice atmosphere. My favorite Italian in Bloomington.

Had one of the best pizzas of my life this evening, go and try it. It's this month special ...service was great. Could use better acoustics but I will definitely go back. read more

We called Osteria Rago about 10 minutes before arriving to make sure we didn't need a reservation. The nice young lady on the phone said we didn't. We were so excited! We got to the restaurant, checked in, and a different woman strangely shammed us for not making a reservation and made us feel very uncomfortable. It was in a very passive aggressive tone which was extremely off putting. That being said, my sister really wanted to eat there so we did. We got house salads that were good. I had a singe 1/4 of a grape tomato in my salad and then like 20 olives, which was slightly bizarre. I got the bruschetta pizza which was very underwhelming. My sister got the fettuccine which was good. Our waitress was a different lady who was very nice and accommodating. The food was fine and I would come back if it wasn't for the weirdly passive aggressive service. read more

Came here for dinner and got the Cacio e Pepe. Basic but yummy! Great homemade bread and gentle flavors. Cute dinner spot, overall great place. read more

This is such a nice Italian spot! We heard great things so we made a reservation and the food was SO GOOD. Lauren was our server and she was awesome! She definitely knew her stuff and was very nice and helpful. My husband got the Patata pizza and I got Chicken Fettuccine and they were both great. Definitely recommending this place! read more

Noisiest restaurant I've ever visited. The food was excellent, but it was more than 10 mins before our server took our drink order. I ordered a glass of wine once I got my meal and that took nearly 10 minutes. Server was clearing tables rather than getting my wine. Hopefully she (or management) sees this. You take care of current customers (especially those who've received their food) before future customers. read more

When it comes to dining in Bloomington, this is the place that you must go for solid, authentic Italian. From homemade pasta, to fantastic wine, Osteria Rago does not disappoint. The service was above average, with an attentive wait staff. The ambience was less fine dining and more Italian cafe style. But the food - oh the food! I thought I was back in my gma's kitchen with homemade gnocchi and chicken parmesan. The only thing old gma didn't have was a large and delectable charcuterie board with generous portions of meats, pickled vegetables, and wonderful cheeses. This place is worth the stop - I just wish we had saved room for dessert! read more

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

So so good! The food was to die for! Haven't had eggplant since I was a wee little lad (thought I hated it) and took our waitress's recommendation. So glad I got the rollatini! Our waitress was very attentive but not overly so. The ambience was romantic as we were seated in a small room off of the main room. read more

Stopped by this spot during my stay in Bloomington and I really enjoyed it! The atmosphere is semi-formal yet cozy. For a visitor, it's not the easiest place to find because it is located in an alley. As far as the food goes, coming from Detroit, I was expecting comfort Italian food - oozing in mozzarella and red sauce. This place wasn't that. It was more of an artisan twist on the comforts. Very tasty, just not my favorite. I had the Caesar salad (tasty!) and chicken parmesan (also tasty!). The dollop of pesto sauce on the chicken through me for a loop. I didn't care for that flavor so had to scrape it off. The red sauce was awesome and the spaghetti cooked to perfection. I left very full. The wait staff was very kind and courteous. read more

Slow service, decent food, and good ambiance! I would go again for the chicken breast which was amazingly soft and tasty. However, I wish service would pick up and we could have been attended to more easily! read more

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Food was delicious, service was great and fast, and the restaurant was clean. Would really recommend.

I have now had breakfast at Osteria Rago two times and was extremely happy with everything both times. They tout an authentic scratch Italian kitchen and they serve food that reflects it. The atmosphere is lovely, I cannot think of a better way to have made use of the quaint old Blooming foods building. It feels like you've found a little secret when you go there because you have to find your way through and alley. I love the renovation they have done, I can't even tell it used to be a grocery! I also loved that they showcase their cured meats in a little window (I love seeing quality meats hanging in a window). The food is awesome! It's amazing that I immediately notice that they use a high-quality olive oil. It elevates every dish! I don't know of many establishments in town that make such good use of fine olive oil. I adore their frittata, and have ordered it both times I've dined with them. We also had a chance to taste their olive oil cake and it is absolutely luxurious. I don't often order desert, but would add this to my ticket every time I go back (pro tip: ask then to add oranges on top) If you haven't, give Osteria Rago a try. You won't regret it! read more

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My FAVORITE Italian in Bloomington. The pasta is fresh and homemade. Definitely get the polenta appetizer and the meatball appetizer. The carbonara is excellent. read more

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

This is our All Time favorite Italian restaurant in Bloomington, IN. Located just off Kirkwood, (a challenge to find the first time) Osteria Rago has out-standing sandwiches, burgers, salads and pizzas! The dish that keeps us coming back is the Tuscan Salmon! The crispy salmon is served with fettuccine in a creamy wine sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach and artichokes. Ames was our waitress and suggested the polenta appetizer, light and airy, topped with mushrooms and a marinara sauce. The wine that tops off this perfect dinner is Treana, a California blend from Austin Hope. And then there is the tiramisu! It is "to die for" or close! read more

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Because we LOVE Osteria Rago, we thought they would like to know that their current risotto special was deeply disappointing last night--very bland in both sauce/broth execution and choice of veg, overly soupy and rice much too al dente at the early end of the evening. (U10 scallop was excellent.) Cheese ravioli with ragú, Alfredo, and starter salads were, as always, delicious and dependable. Tiramisu a but dry for our wide-sampling tiramisu palates, but still yummy. read more

Really quaint, delicious food. Bit challenging for parking but once your arrive, it's a definite gem. Homemade pasta and good service. Recommend! read more

It's quite a shame this restaurant isn't directly on Kirkwood. It deserves far more traffic than it currently gets. All I can say is if you eat here once you'll surely go back. As a matter of fact, ever since I took my first bite of eggplant rollatini, the second part of my life began. A crisply toasted eggplant, bursting with creamy cheese, topped with a dollop of fresh tomato sauce and aged Parmigiano-Reggiano... my mouth is watering just thinking about it. It's a must order dish and every Bloomington resident must try it. Osteria makes all of their pasta by hand and it shows. For the level of care that goes into each dish, the prices are simply unbeatable. If I could I'd rate this restaurant 6/5 stars. read more

Osteria Rago is a new somewhat hidden Gem in Btown that was started by the owners of Nick's English Hut. It's a casual Italian restaurant with the tastes of a fine dining establishment. I've been twice now to check it out on a weekend both for lunch and dinner and neither one disappointed. The staff was friendly and the atmosphere was a casual, Italian feel. The lunch menu is limited but there are a few choices for starters, salads, pizzas, entrees, and Sandwhiches. I went for the carbonara which was one of the best I've had and was perfectly portioned at a very reasonable $9.99. It's made with a fresh, homemade pasta and had the right balance of fresh flavors and ingredients. It was also served with a side of warm, fresh bread. It wasn't too heavy but if you're not a black pepper fan it was slightly heavy on the black pepper side. The second time I went I was splitting appetizers and grabbing drinks with a friend before a show. Their dinner menu boasted more options although I was disappointed not to see the carbonara on the dinner menu. We split the meatball appetizer, salami salad, and I enjoyed a glass of presseco. The meatballs were small but flavorful and their marinara had an excellent flavor. Their salami salad had fresh meat which was incredible! I highly recommend Osteria Rago! read more

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Great food and atmosphere. Make reservations due to limited number of tables. Had the chicken parm and it was excellent

Stopped by for lunch to check out the newest spot in town. I couldn't wait any longer! If you ever visited the space as the Bloomfoods co-op, they have completely reinvented this alley location into a hidden gem. Soups, salads, paninis, pasta and pizza - the menu is not overwhelming and still managed to offer a nice selection. Plus, every dish that walked by made me want to plan my next visit to try something else! The specials today were chicken fettuccine Alfredo or filet, but I already had my heart set on carbonara. SO good! I will be back to try the pizza, wine, and tiramisu sometime very soon! read more

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I cannot say enough good things about Osteria Rago! My only complaint is that I wish it was also open Mondays because I wish I could eat there more often! The charcuterie board - amazing Wine selection is great Delicious pasta Romantic and friendly atmosphere Incredible experience. You cannot go wrong here. read more

Awesome lunch... visiting my children who attend IU. We heard about this new Italian restaurant, surprised to find out RAGS (owner of Nicks) is the owner. He is a perfectionist of the atmosphere and quality of the food! Also found out he is Italian! Rags also has an amazing stained glass pict of the village in Italy his family is from... and of course the stained glass pict includes the famous IU gate. Had the Lasagna.... amazing. This awesome restaurant must be on the "have to eat at" in Bloomington! read more

EDIT: I accidentally deleted this review - it was originally posted on 1/18/2018. Last night was opening night for Osteria Rago, and my wife made sure that we didn't miss it. She had an opportunity to sample their pizza ahead of time, and insisted that it was every bit as good as what we'd enjoyed in Napoli. I was suspicious, because we both agree there's no pizza like Neopolitan pizza. We arrived at 6:00 and even though the dining room wasn't stuffed with table after table and the place was buzzing with the grand opening, we were seated immediately. The manager was helping the wait staff due to opening night and she was more than attentive. We did have to wait a few minutes before our drink orders were taken, but that gave us time to look around at the new changes the building has seen and we liked the charm. We began with the artichoke and olive plate. The large olives were very meaty and the smaller ones had a great tang. There wasn't a lot of variety to the olives, but what was offered was delicious. We also had a starter Caesar Salad to share, and although it's not an "authentic" Italian dish, it was a good beginning made with a flavorful anchovy paste. Our main courses were the margherita pizza, bucatini carbonara, pappardelle Rago ragu for my picky fifth-grade son, and a caprese sandwich for my teenage daughter. The manager offered to substitute capellini for the pappardelle so that the dish might be more in line with my son's "spaghetti" expectations, and we heartily agreed. None of us were disappointed. The carbonara reminded me of a backstreet trattoria in Rome where I last had "real" carbonara. Our picky eater ate most of his ragu, and I was secretly hoping he wouldn't finish it all. Indeed he left a bit for his dad to finish, and I was delighted. The last time I had "ragu" in Bloomington was a few years ago when it was an evening special at Uptown Café. I don't think I've been back since, as the same flavor and consistency was readily available through Chef Boyardee. Rago's ragu, on the other hand, had rich flavor, tender meat, and a bit of spice that both my son and I loved. And my wife had not been exaggerating about the pizza she'd sampled earlier. The margherita was outstanding, with bubbly mozzarella, the perfect amount of sauce, and bright green basil leaves here and there. My daughter never eats the crust of her pizza, but this time was the exception as nearly every bit of the pizza was divided between the four of us. In fact, the only thing from our meal that went uneaten was half of my daughter's sandwich, which is now tempting me from our refrigerator shelf. The adults accompanied the meal with a bottle of 2015 Poggio Anima Belial Toscana. It went very well with the flavors of both the pizza and pasta - even the carbonara. I'll be on the lookout for this red at local retailers. For dessert, we tried both the vanilla and chocolate gelato, as well as a piece of tiramisu. Each dessert was garnished with fresh berries. All were delicious (the vanilla gelato was so flavorful), and we hope that the Osteria will vary their offerings of gelato flavors going forward. Not because we needed more choices, so much as we likely would have ordered any other flavors they had as well. To finish off the evening, we partook of the Osteria's espresso bar, with an espresso for my wife and a macchiato for myself. These were exactly as you would expect from a restaurant modeling itself after true Italian cuisine - the macchiato with just a mark of foam atop it and the espresso cup containing a sip or two of delight with rich aroma. In all, this was best meal in recent memory at a Bloomington restaurant, and the closest to true Italian food we've had since our last visit to Italy. We will be back sooner than later, and may even have to create a separate "Osteria" line in our food budget. read more

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While this place is a bit off of the beaten path and doesn't look like much, it is a gem. Our waitress was super sweet and welcoming. We were the only customers in, early for lunch on a Saturday. Our food came out quickly and hot. The pizza was a bit messy but GREAT! The soup of the day was tomato bacon, and I wish I could buy it at the store. Can't wait to come back to try a cannoli! read more

Osteria Rago - Pepperoni Pizza - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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My partner and have been planning for months to come here for Valentine's Day. We called weeks in advance, were sent to voicemail, and left messages. We also called a week before and the night before, stating our reservation time. Upon arriving to the restaurant, the hostess was very rude and said they could not seat us, and that we should have called and made a reservation. Though, we called on many occasions. Fortunately, another Italian restaurant in Bloomington was able to get us in and we still had a great Valentine's. read more

Great ambience inside. We got food to go so missed out on the experience - I was very impressed they were taking guest temperatures before seating them and minding all COVID requirements. Our to go food was average for Italian. My daughter loved her cheese ravioli with tomato sauce. My pasta in pepper cream sauce was okay and my husband's carbonara was very average - a little dry. The bread that came with our meal was on the stale side. We ordered bruschetta with tomatoes and it was very good. I would order that again. We will go back and try pizza -- It looks delicious. We may have just gotten unlucky with the menu choices we made. read more

First time to Osteria on Friday night with my sophomore son. Started with the Bruschetta which was excellent and followed it up with the Chicken Marsala (son) and Tuscan Salmon (me). The pasta that accompanied each dish was the best I've eaten in Bloomington and the chicken and salmon were both flavorful and prepared perfectly. Great atmosphere and a delightful young lady that served us (Paulina?). Will definitely be back next month to treat my wife to this wonderful new place. Thanks for a great experience. read more

Ordered Eggplant Rollatini and Veal Braciole. The veal it was so salted that couldn't eat it. It went straight to the trash. The egplant wasn't great, just eatable. The roast beef sandwich wasn't too bad. For desert ordered canolis, they were awful, the dough was too hard for a canoli, over cooked tasted burnt. 2 orders of canolis went also to the trash. The tiramisu wasn't good, but eatable. This is definitely not the good tasted italian food experience we werelooking for. Lost of money just through in the trash. We'll never order from there again. read more

Great little Italian place! They make their own pasta and mozzarella cheese in house and their olive oil is incredibly fresh. Bridget, our server was super friendly as well. read more

Osteria Rago - Caprese, made with homemade mozzarella - Italian Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Went today for lunch. Ordered the Patata Suprema Pizza and it was fantastic! Son and I loved that all the meats tasted so good and the combo with potato was so next level. Son had the chicken Parmesan entree and it was the best chicken parm he has ever tasted. The Pesto was so fresh tasting, as well as the red sauce for the spaghetti. All in all just the best italian style restaurant in town. We both will return to try more food. Table next to us got other food that looked so appetizing too! SO worth the money spent. read more

Excellent food, limited selection and too many people crowded into a small space, which at time the noise level is unbearable. Appears competition for which table is the loudest We are a table of four seniors in life and relish our Friday dinners together. We love the restaurant and quality of food but limits our visits due to issues read more