A Chromatic Feast: The Warm Embrace of Sagra in La Crosse To dine at Sagra in La Crosse, Wisconsin, is to be reminded that genuine culinary warmth can be found far from the traditional epicenters of Italian gastronomy. Guided by an exceptionally attentive and gracious staff, the experience unfolds with a well-paced rhythm that immediately puts the diner at ease. It is an establishment that clearly understands the intersection of great service and great food. The meal begins with a study in subtle elevation: olives presented with a gentle, deliberate warming. It is a small but vital touch that awakens their natural oils and briny depth, setting a welcoming tone for the table. The meatballs follow suit, boasting a robust, comforting heft. They are deeply hearty and undeniably tasty, anchored by a rustic authenticity that demands a proper piece of bread to chase the remaining sauce. However, the quiet star of the evening was a sweet potato dish that essentially stole the stage. It was a vibrant, chromatic triumph--an absolute masterclass in both visual palette and culinary palate. The kitchen managed to coax an astonishing spectrum of colorful flavors from the root vegetable, elevating a humble ingredient into something genuinely amazing. "Life is a combination of magic and pasta." -- Federico Fellini The pasta course, often the crucible by which an Italian kitchen is judged, was a remarkably pleasant affair. While it may not have possessed the sheer, surprising theater of the sweet potatoes, it remained a fundamentally nice, deeply satisfying plate of food that grounded the meal in tradition. Ultimately, Sagra delivers an unequivocally great dining experience. It is a restaurant that balances hearty comfort with vibrant execution, proving that a well-crafted Italian menu in the heart of Wisconsin is a journey well worth taking. If this dispatch from the La Crosse culinary scene was useful to you, please leave a like or comment below so I can keep writing these reviews for your education, preparation, and enjoyment. read more

The best Italian food in the Lacrosse region!!! Homemade noodles & bread, fabulous spinach artichoke dip, and cocktails to die for! Worth every penny. Reservations recommended. I went for my birthday with my husband and it was perfect. read more

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We made reservations to celebrate my birthday here on Saturday night. Sagra has a chill and cozy feel. It's not pretentious at all. While nice, our server seemed new/inexperienced. One example is that he never elaborated about the menu options or the fundraiser option that we later heard a different server telling her table about. We started off with the Gnocco Fritto and it was the highlight of our night--light in feel yet abounding in flavor. Between the Sausage Con Panna and Chicken Ragu entrees, the former was the standout. It had a wealth of flavor with every bite, whereas the chicken ragu was more on the bland side so you had to make sure to carefully load your fork with different ingredients to get the most out of it (we decided to quit that tediousness about 50% in and didn't even take it in a to-go box). For dessert, we had the Strawberry Tiramisu and Pistachio Profiteroles. The courses also came out super far apart. Waaaaay far apart. We thought we could go watch the sunset after dinner but that became a moot point before we even got our dessert. While I appreciate that the ingredients are locally sourced and the pasta house-made, I don't know if I'd go back over La Crosse's other standouts (and especially not for my birthday). read more

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We had a team reservation and buffet style. There was plenty of protein, veggies, fruit and dessert. Great staff and wry responsive. So close by to the Fairfield. Lovely evening for us all. read more

Far exceeded expectations. Food was outstanding. Wine and cocktail menu is comprehensive, superbly curated. Lots of key Italian varietals by the glass. House made fresh pasta. We had the Calabrian chili Caesar salad (not hot, definitely elevated) and a whipped ricotta appetizer that was simply stunning with nuts and sultanas and squash and a bit of Garam masala. For main course enjoyed alla vodka pasta and the chicken dish. Really great food, would hold its own even in Italy. On top of that, the service was excellent too read more

This is must visit place in La Crosse. Only open a few nights, so check before you come. My Manhattan was perfect, and only $10.55, what?!! Yes yes yes. My pasta was fresh and tasty, had the kale pasta with pistachios, snap peas, and mint. It was Meatball Monday. Get the meatballs!! read more

Sagra Food And Wine - Manhattan - Wine Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

My favorite restaurant in La Crosse so far by a wide margin. Perfectly prepared, made-in-house pasta ragu! I was so pleased with the full flavors in this dish, like a party in each bite! For the quality, presentation, and portion size, this dish was a good value. The ambiance of the restaurant t was pleasant. Better than "casual" but not one bit stuffy. Service was on point, engaged, attentive and friendly. The wine list and by the glass has wonderful options....not a stinker in the bunch! If you are charged with picking a place to entertain your visitors, this restaurant will bring a wonderful impression for the food scene in La Crosse. Bonus points for the restaurant being open on Sunday when others are closed. read more

Sagra Food And Wine - Chicken ragu - Wine Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

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What a great dining experience. Everything was great. They were so accommodating in a short notice for a party of 10 on a Saturday night. Our server was Brooklyn. She was amazing. Did a great job explaining the menu. Kept us busy with drinks, appetizers and deserts. Thanks for the great family dinner. Will be back. read more

We went to Sagra for appetizers and drinks. Appetizers were great. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms and they were stuffed with sausage and cheese and had an accompanying vinaigrette that was a nice freshness touch in an otherwise heavy appetizer. Very nicely done! The whipped ricotta was also amazing. And the bread served with it was absolutely perfectly crunchy. I had the French Iced Tea drink and it was excellent. More on the fresh side which I like, I sincerely and politely dislike sweet beverages, and this was perfectly citrusy. Service was great! We had our drinks and appetizers at the bar and staff were great. read more

This place was conveniently across from our hotel and hidden away on the second level of a historic building near the river. Loved the low lighting and twists on the traditional flavors. The spicy Caesar was delicious but would recommend getting the dressing on the side (I like a scant amount though). The whipped ricotta dish was so good we mopped the plate with the bread. I just really wish they'd had more vegetarian or pescatarian options. They were quite accommodating but the vodka sauce would have benefited from a protein and I hate when a dish feels like it's missing something. All in all though, loved what this place was doing conceptually. read more

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Elegant, great service, and amazing food! So glad to have found this fancy gem in this small town. Will definitely be returning!!! read more

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Delicious, thoughtful and beautiful atmosphere. Did the coursing menu go 4 and was so happy we did. Everything was packed with flavor, fair price and most importantly, great service. read more

While in La Crosse for a brief two-night stay we found a gem - Sagra Food and Wine. It came highly recommended by no less than four people on our first day there - one of them being our server at Lovechild - another La Crosse gem. So we cancelled our reservation at the Waterfront Restaurant and booked Sagra on a Sunday night. As we arrived at the address, we could see their name on the exterior door, however, it was also the entrance to Piggy's, another restaurant - not open on Sunday night. So we peeked in, wondering if we had this right, and luckily there was someone inside who directed us "up the stairs" to Sagra. Their space is comfy, not overly pretentious, more like a trattoria or even an osteria - definitely not a formal Italian ristorante, and we liked this. It felt good, but it would be much nicer if they were located along a street with the ability for outdoor tables, etc. Our server Brooke was at our table quickly, and opened the night with a warm welcome and a strong knowledge of their menu and wines. We opted for the Chef's Tasting Menu - priced at $55/person on their menu and containing five courses - Appetizer (3), Salad, Pasta (2 styles); Protein (Iberico Pork), and Dessert. It was a lot of good - great food - for $55! For details see the photo attached of the courses, written by the Chef, Mitchel Weber, at the close of the night. I really appreciated him doing this. The Appetizers were big hits for us, especially the shishito peppers with ranchovy sauce. The black kale caesar salad was phenomenal - I could eat this every day! I enjoyed the eggplant alla norma pasta the best, the sweet corn carbonara was a bit too thick and sticky a sauce for my taste. The Secondi course, Saltimbocca with pepperonatta, verde, carrots, and jus was very good. Topping it all off was a five-star Dolce, a chocolate cake as dark as midnight - hence the name mezzanine. It was made with burdock, chocolate ganache, and malt - it had a woodsy, smoky touch to it and although appearing very dark and rich, it was very light. We loved our experience! This place deserves a spot on the street! But for now, it's worth the climb "up the stairs". read more

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This was my first time here and I wasn't sure what to expect. Was pleasantly surprised. Great atmosphere with tables spaced out and not crowded together. Perfect noise level. Could easily hear people at our table, but not at other tables. We each had a different pasta and all were good. Our waiter was very patient and we did not feel rushed at all. read more

Sagra Food And Wine - Wine Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

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Super disappointed. Apparently the menu changed (2 weeks ago according to our server, but the website hasn't been updated yet). No soup/salad or breadsticks with the pastas (as it reads on the menu). Menu was very small. Servers attire and atmosphere were so so. If you are going to pay $100 for your meal you expect more than jeans and sweatshirts. Server was attentive and the entrees we had were good - however we were expecting bread at an Italian restaurant. Not even an option on the menu. The restaurant was recommended as being great - but maybe that was 2 weeks ago before they "went back to their roots" (or back to saving $$). read more

Sagra is an Italian Eatery above Piggy's on Front Street in La Crosse. It was recommended to us by several residents. It did not disappoint. We started with an Arancini appetizer. We have had arancini before, but NEVER like this. It's the best we have ever had. Instead of being rice heavy, it was cheese heavy. They were almost like a Wisconsin cheese curd. The pecorino, a mixture of Italian cheeses, was melty and delicious, especially dipped in the buttermilk dipping sauce. We also ordered the special appetizer, fried wax beans. The breading was very light, almost like tempura. The dipping sauce added the flavor. They were good, but the Arancini definitely stood out. For entrees we got a crawfish dish and a chicken dish. Both were generous portions, which allowed us to have leftovers for lunch the following day. The Crawfish Fra Diavola was filled with crawfish and was very flavorful with fresh ingredients. The Chicken Scarpariello was delicious. The polenta was rich and creamy. The chicken comes bone in and skin on, which keeps it juicy. This dish also had Italian sausage and fresh vegetables. I really enjoyed the Italian sausage as a contrast to the chicken. The only disappointment was when we asked the waitress what 5 dishes were on the "chef's market menu," she didn't know and really wouldn't elaborate. I wanted to try that, but at $58 per person, the requirement for full table participation, and no information, I wasn't willing to take the chance. read more

Sagra Food And Wine - Arancini - Wine Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

I don't know why I've been dragging my feet about getting to Sagra... Four of us finally went Saturday night... it blew me away! When we arrived at 5 PM, there was no one in the place, so that frightened me a little bit. La Crosse doesn't have THAT many great restaurants, so for one to be nearly empty on a Saturday night was a little disconcerting. No fear...our server, Brooklyn, assured us that soon things would be jumping, and she was right. We started out with appetizers, and there didn't seem to be a bad choice in the bunch. Two of us ordered the calamari, which was crunchy due to the tempura batter. My husband had the artichoke dip/spread, served with a little loaf of bread; he said it was delicious, but I was so busy attacking my own arancini and its spicy sauce that I just didn't have time to try it. I have been known to make arancini at home, whenever we have leftover risotto, so it was nice to have somebody else make it FOR me! I would kill to watch "Mr. Chef Sagra" make his, because the rice balls were small and light... And served with a really really really good sauce that had a little bit of a kick. I think that there were six on the plate... I passed them around and still had one to bring home in my doggie bag. But we had licked the lite sauce bowl clean! Really good... had I mentioned that? My friend and I both ordered the spicy Caesar salad as our entrées; she added the chicken protein option, but I knew I was going to be full. Our salads were the only mis-step in the night's offerings, for while they had a nice spicy bite, they were drowning in salad dressing. My friend and I both agreed that there was way too much. So if you're going to order the salad, I would suggest ordering the dressing on the side. Also, I would warn you that it's in no way a TRADITIONAL Caesar salad. Another reviewer remarked that the chef seems to enjoy taking a fresh stab at traditional menu offerings. The Caesar salad salad probably had Romaine lettuce and PROBABLY had some Parmesan and egg... But it was definitely unlike any Caesar salad that I've ever had before. If it hadn't had so much dressing on it, the salad, too, would have been perfect. My husband ordered a pasta with a tomato-y crawfish sauce... "Crawfish fra Diavolo". I've read that the pasta is all made in-house, And he was very pleased with it. Husband #2 ordered the gnocchi and finished it off, so I'm thinking that it was pretty good, too. The two of them had split a bottle of wine, too, so probably anything would've tasted really good to them! But I'm just kidding; the food was EXCELLENT! We were all stuffed and we were running late for our play, so we didn't have a chance to sample the desserts. I've also read that the menu changes pretty often, so I'm not sure what you might find there... But I can almost guarantee that whatever is on the menu will be delicious! Bon appétit! (Almost forgot!! Our server, Brooklyn, was helpful AND fun! She was a killer combination and an asset to the restaurant!) read more

Being from New York, I was not expecting much in regards to Italian cuisine in lacrosse Wisconsin. Well, I came across Sagra. The Italian cuisine was wonderful. The two pastas we had were great. The beet salad hit the spot and the rice bowls were pretty awesome as well. Can't wait to go back. read more

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Food and service was exceptional. An outstanding addition to the Resturants in La Crosse area

One of our favorites. Try the chefs' menu if you are adventurous. Love that they take reservations and are very accommodating with gluten free options. read more

Fun location, great food, handled our large table (10 people) well! Not very busy when we went on a Friday night which was helpful. Servers were excited to give their recommendations! Want to come back for Meatball Monday some time. read more

Sagra Food And Wine - Wine Bars Near Me - La Crosse, Wisconsin

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The food was bland and overpriced for the quality. The chicken ragú had only a little chicken and the other entree was not hot and was very poor and when we complained to server he did not offer any change of entree or to heat it up or do anything x very disappointed read more

SAGRA was a local recommendation from the shop owner Dale at Dale's Clothing. SAGRA was peaceful, elegant in a simple and home like way and offered a truly phenomenal menu of food and wine selection. We enjoyed the recommendations of our hostess Leah, who offered insight into the dishes prepared by Mitch. Leah was eager to assist us with some of our dietary restrictions. The food was excellent. One could taste the intricate and delicate care taken into preparing each dish. The quality of the food and ingredients shown through each bite. SAGRA is a 'holiday' through simple Italian eating with an effortless ambiance. Thank you for a more than amazing experience! read more

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Very cute hidden gem in downtown LAX. Food was delicious and everything tasted fresh. Loved the ambiance and prices were fair. Servers were attentive as well. read more

The food was divine! The service was excellent and the ambiance was out of this world! I love everything about Sagra. Everyone was very friendly and had great recommendations for me! I don't have a picture but we started with the Gnocco Fritto and it's a must try! read more

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Pasta is incredible! The service is impeccable and their seasonal menu is always on point. Meatball Monday is a great day to go to and enjoy the ambient dining room and discounted negronis! read more

This place is absolutely amazing! We had an amazing experience and our servicer was amazing. She recommended a delicious bottle of wine. The food was hands down the best pasta we have ever had. It was all so fresh. The calamari and cannolis were also delicious! read more

Awesome restaurant! Great food, great ambiance. Loved every minute. Would definitely come back again. read more

Wow! I gotta say I absolutely love this place. It's a new joint in town and being a huge foodie, I have to try all the new spots. Mind you there isn't a big dining scene in La Crosse. We heard some friends talking about Sagra so we figured why not give it a try. They offer online reservations and that's extremely helpful. So we walk up the stairs sit down and start to order. We started with the artichoke dip with fresh baked break from opus bakehouse (my next review). Holy cow that was rich and decadent, truly a meal in itself. And we're taking use the bread to wipe up whatever is left in the bowl. Next up was the chicken and this too was absolutely delightful! The chicken was moist and had great flavor. The rest of the vegetables served with it, complemented it nicely, and offered the perfect bite. At this point we're getting pretty full, but of course we had to try dessert. We went for the peach tiramisu and my goodness it was out of this world. I don't know how they did it, but they sure did. Definitely worth coming back! read more

One of the best restaurants in La Crosse, but know that the menu will differ for each visit. Of course, this means you can keep coming back, but you may not be able to indulge in the same items. This is an excellent place to enjoy elevated vegetable cuisine, so I do recommend visiting during approriate seasons. Best to come in a group of 3+ so you can share a variety of plates. Although vegetable dishes are where Sagra shines brightest, meat lovers won't be disappointed either. Particularly in the Winter season, Sagra has excellent secondi and pasta dishes to ensure everyone is satisfied. I must point out that if someone in you party has a food allergy, please make sure you notify your server. We forgot to mention a nut allergy, but the server had asked if we had visited before, so the flow of conversation may have caused that question to not come up. Sagra has been able to accomodate allergies when we did remember to bring it up. After several visits, only one dish has dissapointed and even then there were members of our table that enjoyed it. And looking at the presently posted menu, it seems that item may already have been tweaked. Perhaps I would rate this a 4.75/5 if given the option, but that still rounds up to a solid 5/5 from me. read more

Delicious, creative food. The tasting menu was a good choice and is very fairly priced.

The food is creative and carefully crafted. Not only is the taste nuanced and lovely, they use local produce from organic farms in the Driftless so that I know my money is contributing to the health of our region and our soil. The service was down-to-earth, personable, and helpful. The atmosphere was comfy. read more

Go here. Hurry. It's new, it's amazing, it belongs in a big city, but for now. La Crosse is lucky to have it. Eat here; a place where you can revel in the food, hang out, have great conversations, and meet the fantastic chef. read more

Beautiful establishment. Our waitress was friendly. Very limited menu and drink selection. My husband said his Caesar salad was the best and most fresh salad he has ever had. My meal was meh. Prices were extremely high too. read more

My boyfriend's family and I came here for dinner and it was spectacular! The food was unique, homemade, and fresh. We tried a lot of different things from the menu and not a single one disappointed. Not to mention the service was great. Definitely recommend! read more