Location: Monona
Top Restaurants in Monona
Top Things to do in Monona
- 1. Olbrich Botanical Gardens
- 2. Wisconsin State Capitol
- 3. Memorial Union Terrace
- 4. The Tasting Room
- 5. Chazen Museum of Art
- 6. University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum
- 7. Camp Randall Stadium University of Wisconsin
- 8. University of Wisconsin - Madison
- 9. Capitol Square
- 10. Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Top 10 Italian food in Monona, Madison, Wisconsin
Find out what Italian restaurants to try in Monona. Monona is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 7,533 at the 2010 census. It is completely surrounded by Madison and is part of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Things to do in Monona
10. Grampa's Pizzeria
Overall Ratings
4 based on 77 reviews
Reviewed By JimRiesterer
An small artisanal pizzeria serving a variety of savory pizzas with a thin, cracker-like crust.Located on Williamson street (a cool and trendy part of Madison) you will find Grandpa's pizzeria an homage to the recipe from the chef's grandpa (as well as the former Grandpas gun shop located on the site).There were 5 of us and we arrived a little before 6 on a Friday night in September (on a Football weekend) and were pleased to get seated right away without a wait. We were in a sort of back room (that actually fronts the sidewalk) that has 2 tables for 6. Server was very helpful in explaining the menu options and the clever pizzas all sounded great. We started with the charcuterie plate - featuring a bunch of cheese and some great bread. We ordered 4 of pizzas - three would have been enough. Head and shoulders the best one was the Pinocchio with a great balance of flavors. Of course you can create your own and the basic pepperoni was also well received. The only let down was that they only serve beer and wine - seems like the perfect place for some creative cocktails.Great pizza and something unique. definitely worth a visit.
9. Rossiâs Pizza & Vintage Arcade
Overall Ratings
4 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By Josh J
Rossi's is like family, quirky, fun, and always worth a visit... The thin crust pizzas are made to order and delicious, it's easy to get carried away! The games will take you straight back stealing quarters from your old man's change jar... don't get bummed if you lose a quarter or a button sticks, just breathe the 80's in and enjoy... throw in a pack of series 4 garbage pail kids (dont eat the gum) and a switchblade comb and you have the start of a wonderful, twisted, love affair with Rossi's
8. Osteria Papavero
Overall Ratings
4 based on 111 reviews
Reviewed By RealHungryMann
When my partner asked me if I wanted to try a new Italian restaurant--new in the sense that we had never been there before--I said sure, why not? I'm always up for a new culinary adventure. And since Osteria Papavero does not take reservations, we knew that it would be hit or miss...We arrived around 6:30 and the place was fairly packed. People were eating at the bar. The maître d' greeted us at the door and asked how many were in our party. When we replied that it was just the two of us she showed us to the last empty table in the place! Sweet!Our waitress Julie soon appeared and assisted us in selecting a bottle of wine. We ordered a cheese board and a salami board as appetizers, which was promptly brought to our table along with a basket of fresh bread. We ordered a bowl of the mushroom stew--Zuppa di Funghi--to share, and put in our order for our entrees. In pursuing the menu we discovered that this was not your typical Italian restaurant. I had my heart set on some baked lasagna, or perhaps some spaghetti & meatballs, but nothing even close to this appeared on the menu. Instead, there were dishes with squid, octopus, rabbit, duck pâté, etc. Not exactly my "cup of tea" so to speak.I settled on the Nduja--finely chopped Calabrian sausage served on a bed of linguine-like noodles with small pieces of smoked ricotta in a spicy tomato sauce. My partner ordered the Grigliata, a selection of meats--sausage, chicken, and sliced beef--served over tomato braised yukon gold potatoes and onions.While some reviewers described Osteria Papavero as "intimate and cozy" we found it to be anything but. It's essentially one big mess-hall like room, and somewhat noisy at that. There were families there, of course, clutching their children. And while our waitress Julie was fairly attentive, we were not very impressed with our entrees or the limited selections on the menu. The choices of food were just a bit too exotic for my particular taste. But if you're into squid, octopus, rabbit, duck pâté and the like, you might find this place rather delightful.Overall, the appetizers were good, the service was good, the wine was good, but we weren't exactly wowed by our entrees and the noisy ambiance. And it wasn't exactly cheap, either. We dropped about $200 for the two of us! We probably won't be in a rush to go back there any time soon...
7. Paisan's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 327 reviews
Reviewed By Rick B
We wanted a lake view for dinner. When I drove up to the main entrance, I was sure that there could not be a lake view, since the entrance was surrounded by tall buildings. We walked behind our server through this cavernous restaurant. We sat outside on a balcony that was at least three stories above the lake. Fabulous views. Our Italian food was delicious. The Chianti was fairly priced. A memorable evening.
6. Cento
Overall Ratings
4 based on 290 reviews
Reviewed By Tony V
Location is the best, atmosphere is excellent, fresh, modern, crisp. Service is excellent, the waitress that took care of us was better than expected. Most of the dishes we ordered were acceptable, nothing to write Mamma about. Pricing is above what you'd expect for the quality you are receiving. The gnocchi dish is atrocious, should not be on the menu if the "chef" does not know how to make it, (hint: it's not mushy mashed potato)
5. Angelo's McFarland
Overall Ratings
5 based on 189 reviews
Reviewed By SheilaKay J
My 3rd time at Angelo's McFarland. Not only did I have wonderful service by Dan, I had Amazing food too-! I highly suggest the Cajun Shrimp & Sausage w Gluten-free pasta. Very cozy place & met so many friendly people there-! I will definitely be back-!
4. Glass Nickel Pizza Co. - Madison East
Overall Ratings
4 based on 236 reviews
A Madison pizza treasure serving 21 years of unique, award winning pies with renowned salads, subs, homemade lasagna, pasta and more. Offering delivery, carryout, catering and dine-in with full bar on the venerable near east side. The Atwood neighborhood
Reviewed By Rebecca C
We recently walked over to Glass Nickel to get a pizza "to go". Hadn't had pizza in a very long time and was unfamiliar with how everything worked. The staff were very helpful in guiding me to the "right" pizza for me and the wait was accurately estimated by staff. We went home and thoroughly enjoyed our "cheeseasaurus" pizza - this is cheese pizza with 3 ingredients of your choosing. What's really telling is that we ordered a large pizza and between my husband and I, there was only a quarter left for the next day's breakfast. We'll definitely be back! Hello, thank you for your review, I'm so glad your pizza was delicious! Come on back again and see us soon!
3. A Pig in a Fur Coat
Overall Ratings
4 based on 235 reviews
Mediterranean comfort food drawing inspiration from Spain, France and Italy. We offer shared plates in a cozy, communal dining experience. Please see our website for current menus.
Reviewed By Aspen P
I visited with co-workers while on a business trip. The location and atmosphere were great. The food is high-end, but the restaurant did not feel pretentious. We decided to get a range of dishes and share amongst ourselves. We tried the following dishes:- Dates: Stuffed with chorizo and covered in a chili sauce. They were delicious, a great balance between sweet and spicy.- Meatballs: Very tender, but just a meatball at the end of the day.- Foie Gras Mousse: Not my thing. I have a moral objection to the process of creating foie gras, so this may have colored my opinion.- Parisian Gnocchi: Fantastic! The most tender gnocchi I have ever eaten!- Beets: Beets are not my thing, the pickled carrots were very tasty.- Wagyu Ribeye: The steak was good. I'm not a fan of steak fat so I felt like I was discarding more than I would like at this price point. The lentil and vegetable salad it was served over was wonderful. Great flavor with just the right amount of acid.- Scallops: I could not try them due to allergies, but my colleagues said they were great.- Sicilian Sfingi: Interesting dish. It is an Italian doughnut in a chocolate sauce. The doughnut was dense with a touch of cinnamon flavor and not very sweet, and the chocolate sauce was on the dark side so did not add much sweetness. The overall dish was very rich.The staff was fantastic and knowledgable. Our waiter was more than happy to discuss the menu and make recommendations.
Madison, Wisconsin Food Guide: 4 Grill food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Monona
2. Naples 15
Overall Ratings
4 based on 1114 reviews
My desire is to transmit joy,and emotions to others through food, in exactly the same way you share at your home with your family and friends, and share my cuisine and my Neapolitan Culture with sincerity and passion. Thank You, Chef Salvatore Di Scala Il
Reviewed By KaraBenNemsi11
Here I am, sitting at the bar and enjoying the wonderful company of other patrons, the staff and Sal. The food - outstanding. The chef, he excels in creating dishes and cooking the most wonderful Italian food there is.Award winning cuisine. World class.No other place as good and authentic.Want to come back again and again.Sal - you are so very special. Thanks for your care for your customers.
Where to eat Bar food in Monona: The Best Restaurants and Bars
1. Angelo's
Overall Ratings
4 based on 395 reviews
Reviewed By Kare D
WE love it the Pizza is my Favorite My Husband love the Pasta!!Work night it soda but on the weekend it a Glass or fine wine!!
