Margaret Gotsch
Service and food were equally excellent. I would come back just for coffee and cake. Chicken Marsala was delicious. The lasagna was light and flavorful. Cheese wheel changes daily (carbonara) was made table side. Pheasant ravioli in mushroom cream sauce was the winner. I suggest you make a reservation but they will accommodate if they can.
… moreDiane
If you want a piece of Italy.. go to ciao’s! Dinner does take time.. they are not rushing you. I already went twice in the last week and I just keep ordering their specials since it all sounds so good! I had the branzino sea bass and also the duck entree $40. Cooked perfectly. We also tried their bruschetta which was very yummy but my oh my.. their house bread they bring to the table with oil is AMAZING… so soft … and the oil mixture is also good.
I’ve had a glass of their Chianti and also a bottle of their chop shop which was good. I tried their beef carpaccio $20 which was okay- it was sliced but I guess I expected like chunks of meat minced or something. That was on top of a bed of arugula and was a special that day. We also tried their mini lobster pasta $28 (amazing sauce…) and their special which was short ribs with potatoes and green bean $42.
They have a whole display of desserts up front as well. Tiramisu was pretty good. It does get pretty loud and stuffy … so dress in layers so you can peel them off and get a drink to cool you down. Call for a reservation , I don’t know if they take walk-ins. They def can’t if there’s a game in town !
… moreEmily Yong Beck
This was such a great dining experience. The food was delicious and authentic. I had the best cannoli of my life here and the employees were amazing. They made us feel like home! They even brought over a free plate of cookies. Please support this buisness! You will not be disappointed. Can’t wait to go back 🙂
… moreHannah Toombs
Staying in south bend for work trip and have been tired of fast food. This is actually my last night and i stumbled across this restaurant. I called a take out and what i believe was the owner recommended the ravioli. It was absolutely delicious and i would come back just for that lol. While i was inside getting my order the desserts caught my attention. The woman who helped me i believe was the owner (not super sure but was the vibes i was getting) she helped me pick out desserts and even gave me one on the house. She was extremeley sweet and seemed to have a kind soul. They even gave me a plate for my to go order as well as extra napkins and plasticware. The desserts were wonderful!!! 10/10 would recommend. Very impressed . Even though I live a few hours away, I will definitely be back for more food and treats. Thank you for the great experience, we need more family owned restaurants like this.
… moreRandy Moore
Been here twice for dinner, the food is absolutely amazing. The moscato wine is great. Adele is very sweet and likes to come out of the back to talk, greet, and even hug customers she knows.
A taste of Italy in South Bend
They did have a huge party one night and the service was slow but it was made up for by the food and staff. Could tell they needed 1 more server to help out when having big parties in the back. I went with a party of 7 and they easily accommodated our party size.
Pastries and desserts were extremely good!
… moreSarah
The absolute best Italian food in the area! I have been looking for authentic Italian cuisine for so long and have finally found it. The food was incredible. The ambience is cozy and welcoming. The owner is so warm and kind. It’s such a special little place that I cannot wait to go back to.
… moreChelsea Cauffman
My first time here and will definitely be coming back! Great service, food was absolutely delicious and it was very pretty, cozy and clean inside. We got the pasta wheel and pollo piccata, and I picked out the hazelnut and pistachio pastries from their bakery case. Best meal and experience at a restaurant that I’ve had in a while.
… moreMad Kas
Best Italian in SB, hands down. Closer to actual Italian than the American-homestyle Italian places we have here in SB. They’ve opened the restaurant back up and take walk-ins but reservations are always great. They always have great specials that the waiters will guide you through, as well as a solid wine list for those who partake. I’ve been to Ciao’s quite a few times, but this latest time was just too good not to share. The bruschetta is a mainstay on the menu and is worth ordering. They give you free bread for the table and we got the spicy mussels to start – they were wonderfully fresh with a calm heat in the tomato sauce, would definitely order again. We ordered the special lamb plate and the scallops; both of us were basking in how divine both plates were! They even gave us more bread to sop up the leftover sauce. The owner who often comes and chats to everyone in the dining room is a true delight and remembers familiar faces; she works hard to make sure you have a smile on your face while you enjoy the food. I love Ciao’s and am so happy they have the dining room open!
… moreJim Cunningham
Our first time at Ciao’s! What a pleasant and unexpected surprise! We had no expectations, but found this to be exceptional.
We were warmly greeted and seated immediately. Cocktails were well crafted and appetizers of eggplant parmesan and mussels in a flavorful broth were excellent. We were pleasantly surprised to find a couple of domestic selections on the wine list in addition to traditional Italian offerings.
My dining partner had a delicious Pollo Marsala. I selected the Linguine All’ Aragosta (Lobster Pasta) that was the best Italian dish I’ve had in years.
My only ding on this experience is that our server was uninformed about the menu and wine list. He was a really nice guy, but had no information about the menu – ingredients and preparation. He also neglected a couple of specials that night, one of which I probably would have ordered. Nontheless, we will be back.
… moreJasher Cox
We’ve been in South Bend for just over a year now, and this restaurant sits firmly at the top of my favorites list. Adele is not only exceptionally talented at her craft but also one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet. Her menu transports you straight to Italy — it’s even written in Italian — and every dish is authentically prepared. You truly can’t go wrong with anything you order.
… more