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Vin Santo
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
30 reviews for Vin Santo
Review Highlights
"but it was actually the best bread pudding I've ever had."
(in 4 reviews)
"The homemade Italian sausage was awesome (wish it was..."
(in 3 reviews)
"It is by far the best Italian food I've ever had."
(in 4 reviews)
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30 reviews in English
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Review from Becky M.
Madison, WI
12/20/2011 Seated via OpenTable
I can't think of anything bad to say about Vin Santo! The prices are the same as Olive Garden but the food is 10x the quality and 5x as authentic! I have eaten at Vin Santo five times now and I am never disappointed, everything I have had is delicious, and the dessert (bread pudding, tiramisu) is to die for. The owner is very sweet and accommodating and she is there everytime I go, it's a local family owned business with world class cuisine!
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Review from Elaine F.
Madison, WI
2/2/2012
I reserved the dinner there to celebrate my parents' 50-yr anniversary. Before making the reservation, I did quite extensive look on Yelp, to find somewhere that offers nice food and attentive service - I wanted to make sure the night is memorable to them.
After the visit, I felt overall it's a good experience but not excellent --
1. Nice little quiet restaurant with light opera background music, the waitress was attentive and helpful to pick the food for us. The furnitures are like from garage sale (agree with another reviewer) -- they don't match, they show their age with all the wear and tear. Minimal decorations in the restaurant -- I wish it could be a little more vivid.
2. HUGE portions, 3 out of the 4 entries we ordered tasted very good, except Pollo al' Tuscana which the chicken breast was quite jerky instead of juicy & tender.
Other dishes we ordered are --
Lasagna del Giorno -- sausage Lasagna which was awesome
Lobster Ravioli -- very good, I loved it
Shrimp pasta -- very good, although the shrimp is not that jumbo, but it's fresh
3. The bread they serve before entry comes was COLD. I was disappointed on that -- I missed the hot bread fresh out of oven from other Italian restaurants I've been to. And it was very chewy, kinda of hard for my parents.
4. They didn't do anything special for my parents' special day. Of course, they don't have to, but if they did, it'll be a very nice touch and we are more likely to go back again. Neither of the owners came out to say anything, or offer anything special, which made me feel a little disappointed especially it's family owned restaurant.
We are likely to try other popular area restaurant before we go back to this one again. -
Review from Abby A.
Middleton, WI
2/7/2012
This is a wonderful family-owned Italian restaurant, probably the best Italian food I've ever had. Definitely the best in Dane County! Get the pasta almatriciana, it's to die for.
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Review from Michael P.
Madison, WI
1/16/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Everything was baked fresh, so expect a little bit of a longer wait, but well worth it. Very generous portions -- best plan would probably be to get salads and split an entree or plan to bring some home with you. I had the italian sausage lasagna, which was very very good.
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Review from Getafix O.
Sunnyvale, CA
1/31/2012
I would rate vin santo at 2.5 stars for food and 4 stars for service. I guess I'm used to great Italian fare in San francisco, but the food at Vin Santo didnt quite cut it for me both times I've eaten here. The portions are large, but taste doesnt cut it for me.
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Review from Eric B.
Madison, WI
12/22/2011
Really a wonderful Italian Food experience.
Everything was delicious. Service was attentive, but not overly stuffy.
Bread pudding is unattractive, but super delicious.
Price is high, but worth it. -
Review from Robert M.
Middleton, WI
1/29/2012
Go there, Eat there, and be happy! For such a tiny space, this place produces some of the best Italian in town. The food was absolutely outstanding and the service was spectacular. We had the pleasure of having the owner come over to our table to chat with us and could tell that this was not just her business, it was her passion. I would happily pay twice the price for our experience.
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Review from Natalie H.
Los Angeles, CA
3/25/2011
"Ummm Good. Yummy. Tasty. What is this delicious piece? Do you wanna try this? It's good."
Those are pretty much what my bf and I said to each other during our Valentine's day dinner. No footsies or romantic hand holding but just shuffling forks with an extreme eager to try each other's plate. Vin Santo is THAT good.
I got seafood Ravioli with pine nuts, which completely blew me away. It is by far the best Italian food I've ever had. They made their own bread: crisp and tender. Their Tiramisu will brighten up all of your taste bulbs. Appetizers and desserts are made for sharing, so be friendly to each other, less conservative and share. Go make a reservation now. You'll love this place. -
Review from Raychel L.
Chicago, IL
2/26/2011
My boyfriend surprised me for Valentines day here, impressive I know :). It was like we were back in Italy. It's a tiny little place with very authentic italian dishes. They make the lasagna fresh in individual servings when you order it. It was amazing. I had the seafood pasta (my standard order) which was HUGE. I mean you should definitely split this. We ended the night with the tiramisu .... and let me tell you, I am a tiramisu connoisseur (i pretty much order it every time it's on the menu) and this was the BEST tiramisu I have ever had. It even beats the stuff I had in Italy.
All in all this a perfect romantic, date place and I would definitely return. -
Review from Vickie M.
Middleton, WI
12/4/2010
We love Vin Santo and have gone there about every month or two for 3 years. Small place, warm and inviting, and the lovely host/owner Clarissa greets us like family when we walk in. Her husband/chef makes fabulous and imaginative sauces to accompany the comforting Italian dishes. Their italian sausage is probably the best we've had anywhere (including fancy places in LA, NYC, Philly, etc).
There are special lasagna, fish, and ravioli dishes every night. The lasagna is cooked to order so it takes a while, but is so worth it. If you are lucky enough to go on an Italian sausage lasagna night, the portion is enormous, and every bite (yes, every bite) includes sausage and cheese - it's the bomb. I had a veal ravioli in a butter sage sauce recently that was fabulous, and unlike some pricey new Italian places where the portion is 5 or so ravioli, this dish had 10 or 12 large ones. In fact, all the portions are large, and really reasonably priced. Their wine selection is pretty sparse, and we haven't had good look finding one we like. But that is the only down side to what is always a fantastic and totally filling meal.
We are usually too full for dessert, but they do make their own tiramisu, which is light, fluffy, creamy, and enormous. Get one if you have someone to share it with. Recently they have added a couple of desserts, including a caramel cheesecake, which I hope I am not too full to try someday. -
Review from Char M.
Long Beach, CA
Adam was my server and did a great job of suggesting things as well as being a helpful opinion when I was choosing between one dish or another...
-Calamari was heavenly and really hearty and heavy...this is not the kind of calamari that you get at Olive Garden or most Italian restaurants...this was heavenly...perfect bit of spiciness and the portion was enormous
-Scampi Gabriela...was amazing...the pasta was perfectly al dente...and the shrimp were huge...a legitimate dinner portion that you had to take home
-Bread Pudding for dessert...not at all the type that you get at other restaurants again...this was mushy and didn't resemble the bread pudding I'm use to...but it was actually the best bread pudding I've ever had...it was simply mouthwatering
-I had a glass of pinot noir with my dinner and it was a great accompaniment to my meal
One of the owners...Clarissa came by and personally asked how I liked the food and the service...we had a long chat...told her what I loved and a few pointers...she has the same name as my mom so I instantly felt a connection with her...
This is a MUST when in town...I will definitely be back! -
Review from Jennifer W.
Littleton, CO
9/27/2010
I went to Vin Santo with some work colleagues while in Middleton for a conference, and it was terrific! The restaurant is small, with dimmed lights, which makes for a cozy setting. The hostess and waitress were very welcoming.
We arrived around 7:45 on a Tuesday, and we were the only people in the restaurant, which seemed unusual, but maybe it was because it was a weekday? Anyway, I ordered the scampi carciofi, which consisted of shrimp, garlic, artichokes, olive oil, and cherry tomatoes served over spinach fettuccine. The portion was HUGE, and the food was fresh and very tasty. My colleagues had the eggplant parmigiana, which looked and smelled delicious, and a chicken dish that I can't remember the name of, but which also looked pretty good.
I'm not sure Vin Santo is the best place for a business dinner, but for a romantic date, it's perfect. I will make sure to come back here whenever I am in the Madison area, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a hearty, delicious Italian meal. -
Review from Miinkay Y.
Houston, TX
1/24/2011
Great Italian eatery. The atmosphere is homey and intimate. I had the spaghetti with pine nuts, olives, capers, and anchovies in homemade tomato sauce. This dish was alright. I liked the idea of adding pine nuts, but the olives AND capers made it too salty for my tastes. I had some leftovers and they were definitely better the next day even if they were still a little salty.
DEFINITELY get the Tirimasu cake while there. It was wonderful. Not too rich, but soaked in expresso and very flavorful. There is a mascarpone cheese based whip cream which is light and not too sweet that makes the cake amazing. -
Review from Jason L.
Wauwatosa, WI
11/17/2010
We fell into Vin Santo on a busy Friday night before a recent marathon that the PIC was running in. Despite the wait (45 minutes) the owner (a sweet and thoughtful English woman) made every effort to accommodate us and move us up the list, even asking other patrons if they minded waiting just a couple more minutes.
As for the food, none of us could complain about being short-changed...especially the PIC who was carb-loading. The plates were absolutely delicious and huge (I thoroughly enjoyed the Salsiccia Rossa--pasta with so much homemade Italian sausage that I had to take it home without noodles!). We all walked away thinking we couldn't have picked a better spot nor gotten a better deal.
The decor was very nice and clean and the staff as mentioned previously was very helpful. We'll definitely be back. -
Review from matthew y.
Madison, WI
8/12/2011
A bustling, lively atmosphere couldn't save Vin Santo's food.
The decor is tacky, the waitstaff tired, and the food dreadful. Seafood ravioli was CLEARLY of the frozen variety, slopped on a plate, and covered in canned tomato sauce. My seafood fettucini wasn't any different as bland frozen seafood chunks swam in a thin sauce reminiscent of ragu.
I realized my after-dinner fare (coffee and dessert) was going to be as cr@p as the food when staring down the coffee pots steaming for over an hour. YOU CAN'T CLAIM AUTHENTIC ITALIANA AND SERVE BURNT COFFEE. It was only 7:15 and they had "ran" out of cannoli (forgot to thaw). Luckily a gelato shop down the street (villa dolce) supplied me with the only thing delicious I got to eat this evening.
The prices are high. Real high. Higher than anything else in the area. This is what earned Vin Santo it's sterling 2 star review.
Summary: Go somewhere else. -
Review from greenjjm H.
Madison, WI
12/2/2008
try their appetizer of steamed mussels and their excellent bread pudding (huge portion). Their bread was mediocre. I couldn't remember what seafood pasta I ordered; it was satisfactory but not a surprise.
The manager is very nice while the cook has a funny attitude. We went there craving for bread pudding at 5p right after they opened. As the waitress submitted our order to the chef, he said, "we don't serve desert at 5." Anyway, we got our sweet tooth satisfied along with some tea for an hr.
I give 4 stars for the atmosphere and the menu selection. -
Review from Zenide R.
Washington, DC
10/21/2008
This is easily the best Italian food in the Madison area. I've never had a bad meal (or even a bad bite!) on a visit to Vin Santo.
The seafood fettucini is really heavy on the seafood (they're not trying to stiff their customers!) and they basically serve BRICKS of incredible tiramisu. Everything tastes so fresh and home-made and they offer a much more interesting menu than most "Italian" restaurants in Madison.
I'm so happy that this locally-owned business has found great success - they have lots of regulars (like I used to be!) who keep coming back for the delicious food, big servings, friendly staff and relaxed atmosphere. Vin Santo is a MUST for me when I'm in the area. -
Review from Ryan R.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2011
Was up in Madtown from Chicago to run the Crazylegs and used that as a nice excuse to carbo load.
Was absolutely blown away by the food here. There is plenty of great Italian in Chicago and this was equal to better than anything I've had in Little Italy.
We split a couple caesar salads, Salsiccia Rossa, Pollo Tuscana, and Linquini Pecorino. Everything was incredible fresh and tasty. Pasta was cooked to a PERFECT al dente on all dishes. Nothing was oversauced. The homemade Italian sausage was awesome (wish it was spicier). Honestly some of the best homemade Italian I've ever had.
Ambiance is great, feels like you're in someone's home. The tables and chairs look like a collection from a garage sale... mean that in a good way. There'a a really tiny bar upfront that seats 4 people.
Do NOT miss the tiramisu-- simple sensational. Canoli was good but was my least favorite part of the meal. Shell was a little too overcooked for me and found the filling to be good but a little gritty.
All in all easy 4, if not 4.5 stars. Will be back next time up in the area., -
Review from Joseph H.
2/26/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Balling in Middleton. Definitely a good place if you don't mind driving from Madtown.
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Review from Underhill T.
Middleton, WI
10/13/2008
Vin Santo rules!
This is a great casual restaurant that is owned/operated a local couple. She can often be found running the front of the house and he is in the kitchen. Their passion is reflected in the quality of their food and the high level of service provided to their guests.
Their food is some of the best in the area - they focus on Northern Italian cusine. It's simple, fresh, and delicious! They always offer a variety of specials.
The portions are huge! You definitely feel like you are getting your money's worth. I have never left without leftovers.
My favorite dish is the Scampi Gabriella (jumbo shrimp sauteed with garlic, pancetta, and scallions finished with a white wine cream sauce served over linguini). Awesome!! -
Review from Julie F.
Madison, WI
9/23/2011
It is a very small and friendly place with a relaxed atmosphere and good food. They have great crusty bread with oil, butter upon request. Their vegan fare is limited to a couple of salads. Vegetarians, however, who can eat the R.P. pasta, made with eggs, have several delicious selections to choose from. The seafood is also good. We did not have room to try dessert!
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Review from Scotty J.
Champaign, IL
7/13/2010
I went here for a friend's graduation dinner. The seating area was filled. We had reservations and they were right on time. The service and level of professionalism was great. The menu is vegan friendly with a few delicious options. I tried a friend's baked eggplant dish and it was by far the best eggplant course I've ever had. Many people in my party ordered the lasagna and loved it. I ordered the pesto and was disappointed. The homemade noodles were good but the pesto didn't have the pop of basil I was hoping for. Despite the pesto sauce, the experience as a whole was great. I would definitely recommend this establishment.
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Review from mark w.
Madison, WI
8/2/2011
I love this place. Order the seafood stew, you won't be dissapointed! Bread pudding for dessert... Trust me, this place is the real deal. I've been going here for over 10 years.
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Review from Christopher C.
Middleton, WI
11/20/2010
Great food, large portions and attentive staff.
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Review from Kate T.
Madison, WI
12/14/2009
I've now eaten twice at Vin Santo. Both times the waitstaff has been professional, helpful, and speedy. The music is at an appropriate level, the atmosphere is cozy, the decor tasteful. The wine list is extensive, and many dishes on the menu seem appetizing and imaginative at first glance. With all of these elements going for it, I have high expectations for the food. Although some of it is delicious, some significant problems have arisen when I've dined there.
I have had both the bruschetta and the mussels as appetizers. The bruschetta portion was a bit smaller than I expected, but it packs a large amount of flavor into the bites. The tomatoes tasted fresh and sweet, and balanced well against the (presumably) homemade pesto. The fresh bread served at the table is similarly warm, with a crisp crust and toothsome interior. The mussels are flavorful and delicious, but they don't come with any bread to sop up the flavorful broth that remains after the mussels have been eaten. Our plate was whisked away before we had a chance to ask for any bread to go with the sauce.
Two of my companions ordered the Ravioli al Vin Santo; both liked and finished the dish. It is one of four vegetarian options (the Fettucini alla Putenesca does not list meat, but I've never heard of a putanesca sauce made without anchovies), which was a welcome surprise for the vegetarian with whom I dined. One companion ordered the Insalata di Caesare (which also has unlisted anchovies in the dressing), and found it flavorful, if unimaginative. A fourth companion ordered the Lasagna del Giorno (that day it was with roasted chicken), and savored every bite. A fifth companion ordered the Fettucini alla Putenesca, of which I tried a bite. The spinach fettucini was fresh and delicious, and the sauce was perfectly salty. My entree, the Campenelli il Diavolillo, was pretty awful. The combination of meat and seafood in a dish can be done artfully, but this felt like a clumsy mishmash of shrimp, chicken, and Italian sausage. The sausage was very sweet and seemed to lack enough oregano, basil, and garlic. It clashed notably with the rest of the dish. The shrimp and chicken were both cooked well, and were tender and juicy. The pasta was fresh and tasty. It was really a shame that the "spicy garlic broth" as described by the menu translated into nearly an inch of oil at the bottom of the dish, making the entire dish almost inedible. All portions were huge.
The desserts are delicious. The tiramisu, which I sampled on my first visit, is fluffy and sweet. I tried to order it on my return visit, but the waitress told me she had sold the last piece to a table that came in after us. Since we arrived at 5 p.m., this came as quite a shock. It seems unlikely that they started the evening's service with more than one piece of tiramisu, and seems like profoundly poor planning. The bread pudding, while not much to look at, is also delicious, though it is so rich that by the time we finished one portion (between three people) it almost felt like i was eating a stick of butter rolled in cinnamon.
I can't say I'll be back anytime soon. I have to disagree with Zenide R.'s assertion that it's "easily the best Italian food in the Madison area." For the price, both Lombardino's and Tutto Pasta make better Italian food, and I shall stick to those restaurants in the future. -
Review from Bogie A.
Mt Horeb, WI
9/24/2011
I would love to rate their food, but never got the opportunity. Happened to stop there on a Saturday evening at about 5:45p and could not even get in the door because the hostess was blocking the area with a party of four. Instead of taking the party aside so we could enter, and I should point out I was on crutches, she had us wait outside until she could seat them. We entered AND STEPPED ASIDE so others could enter. There were three in a our party. When she asked if we had reservations, I replied no, and she commented NO? You KNOW IT IS SATURDAY. I wanted to say yes, yesterday was Friday and tomorrow is Sunday. Instead I replied that I was TERRIBLY sorry i did not realize i needed a reservation, and she once again reminded me it was SATURDAY. I had never been there and did not realize that it was a quaint, small place. Had I known, I would certainly made a reservation. I probably will not make a reservation and try the menu since the hostess obviously thought I did not know what day it was. Yes, it is probably my loss, but I don't enjoy being insulted.
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Review from donna o.
Milwaukee, WI
3/27/2011
Party of 4 celebrating a birthday...Seated immediately. Intimate seating, some chairs a little close. Food was delivered piping hot and service was good. Food we had was the lasagne(huge portions) and salmon and one spaghettti, all outstanding. No salads, but they looked good. The only annoyance was the chef/owner? Numerous times during our dinner he was grumbling/shouting loud enough for us to hear from our table, kinda shouting at his sous chef or someone in the kitchen and on several occasions came out and sat and kinda watched people eating..(weird)and grumbled to the hostess about not doing her job.In appearance, she seemed to be very efficient at her job and had stopped at our table and asked how our food was, etc. Upon leaving, he was in the front of the house grumbling again....Not a good thing to do! I would go again, based on the food, but hope this man
leaves his sour attitude out of the customers face..Tiramusu amazing. Fed all four of us with no problem. -
Review from Beth P.
San Francisco, CA
10/5/2008
I always crave Vin Santo, even though I haven't been there for years, I still have family back in Middleton, and every time we visit, we have a feast! I truly believe it offers some of the best home made Italian food in the midwest. A real hidden Gem. And considering multiple family members have worked there in the past, we know what a tight ship is run, and how genuine the owners are in their hospitality and insistence for high quality in everything they do. Please give it a try, and DO NOT pass on the breadpudding/tiramisu for dessert : ) be warned that it may ruin you for life on anyone else's recipe!
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Review from amy p.
Madison, WI
12/13/2009
Delicious!! Huge portions of very authentic Italian dishes. All entrees, salads, apps and desserts can easily be shared. Very cozy and wonderful servers. Can't wait to go back!
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Review from Gary G.
Madison, WI
2/15/2008
The best Italian food in town, hands down. They've got homemade sausage that's the best I've ever had, and they use fresh basil like there's no tomorrow. My girlfriend's favorite is the pasta with giant prawns and pancetta. This place is too good for Madison.
