Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano
3001 S 32nd Ave, Omaha, NE, 68105
Lo Sole Mio Ristorante Italiano Menu
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Address :
3001 S 32nd Ave
Omaha, NE, 68105 - Phone (402) 345-5656
- Website https://www.losolemio.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Mike C.
(0 stars!! 8.5 on the heartburn scale!) Where to begin... well lets start with the moment everything went downhill in flames. I hadn't been to Lo Sol for over a year and took my girlfriend there for her birthday tonight because we were looking forward to EXCELLENT Italian. As soon as we sat down I felt that everything had changed. Waiting for us at the table was the worst wine on the face of the planet, the Carlo Rossi. Then the server brought out bread that someone would have found at a sub shop inside an interstate truck stop in rural Arkansas. I when the "Tour of Italy" and "Maria's Best" came out, I cringed. The cheese atop a smothered mess was toasted like the pizza that your grandma with dementia's would make. The alferdo was so thin, so watery, so tasteless, it must have been made with 1% milk and powdered cheese mix. Simply the cheapest ingredients imaginable and even though there was no doubt how poor the food was, right now my stomach hurts so bad I wish I had threw up. Who ever took over management of Lo Sol, I hope you feel ashamed. You took a staple of Omaha and gutted the integrity of every dish just to make some cash. Food prices do rise, but hopefully so will the for sale sign when you drive away all the loyal fans and Lo Sol Mio will finally rest in peace as we remembered it. If you dont like good food, what the hell are you doing running a restaurant. I'll advise every one I know to avoid it if they've ever been there in the past and enjoyed it. Ps the service/atmosphere was great. No problems in the front of the house.
(1)Kerry G.
I've been hearing about this place for years and we finally went to check it out last night. Wait was about 15 minutes on a Friday evening (not great, but they originally told us it would be 30). The dining room was on the noisy side, but otherwise had a nice atmosphere - a little kitschy, but not ridiculously so. Service was above average but not outstanding. We really enjoyed the tomatoes with basil and roasted garlic toppings to put on the bread, as well as the infused olive oil. Salad was crisp romaine with a good dressing rather than the iceberg that passes for lettuce at too many Omaha institutions. For the actual meal, my husband got the Taste of Italy sampler and I got the puttanesca with linguine. I would have preferred a slightly higher ratio of capers to anchovies, but enjoyed it overall. My husband's sampler was also good, if not outstanding. I especially liked the spinach lasagna. Topped everything off with a yummy tiramisu, and had plenty of leftovers for lunch today. Yay leftovers! We had our toddler along, which could have been a mistake. It didn't strike me as the most toddler-friendly atmosphere, though older kids would be fine. However, she behaved herself just fine and the lack of a kid's menu didn't turn out to be a problem, since she shared her dad's lasagna and chicken cannelloni with plenty to spare. The chicken cannelloni was a particular hit. The one thing I'd say is that - if you absolutely must take a young child - you might want to take some crayons and paper or other distractions along yourself, since they don't provide any.
(4)Holly B.
Okay, if you can get over the Italian-American theme-park feel (AND SOUND), the food is great. We brought home half of it, so what? Just like going to Non's. I am usually indifferent to spaghetti - theirs I loved. The olive oil was nice, the bread too soft with too tender a crust, but maybe that is how bread is here in Omaha. (Going to have to investigate). I ordered Nick's combo because I had never had steak pounded and breaded and fried, and probably won't again, but their sausage was excellent. The pasta fagole (sp) was very good. I even liked the table wine and liked even better that I could pour it myself. Cracks me up that they measure how much I drank later...
(4)Zachary Sam Z.
What's great about Lo Sole Mio, is that for around $15, you're getting a huge dinner *plus* 2 more portions for leftovers. Seriously. I've never seen bowls of pasta so big. The flavor is good, and it's got a great atmosphere to sit and hang out. Minus 1 star for two reasons. First, it's not the best Italian I've ever had by a long shot. Definitely not a super high end Italian place. Secondly, getting seated is a chore. They don't take reservations, and they don't seat you until your entire party is there. Hence, coordinating a group can be difficult. The best strategy for getting seated is to call ahead and see how long the wait is. Send a scout or two to put your name in early, then they can enjoy drinks during the wait and the rest of the party will hopefully arrive right on schedule. They have a place across the street for really big parties. My friend had his wedding rehearsal dinner there and it was great.
(4)Jonathan A.
Tons of food. I swear the pasta multiplies in the bowl. Nice intimate yet family style atmosphere. I like the bread and olive oil and the table wine is nice because it's there. An Italian favorite in Omaha.
(4)Blevins L.
I come here whenever I'm in town and I've never been disappointed. All of my entrees have been very good to excellent and all of the entrees I've sampled off of others' plates have been the same. Good crisp salad to start and they have a nice setup of olive oil, roasted garlic and bruschetta to go with the bread. Last time I was there I had a shrimp appetizer that was fantastic. The only thing keeping me from giving it 5 stars is that the service, while never bad, can sometimes be a little spotty. That and the jug of cheap wine that sits on every table. If you're in the mood to eat some delicious, well prepared, home style Italian food accompanied by a carafe of wine then this is the place.
(4)Matt J.
I had been hearing about this place for years and had never been there. I looked on here and at the time the reviews were good. I went there and wasn't overly impressed. I would have got the same food at the Macaroni Grill. Not that it is that bad, just expected better I guess. There are little things here and there, like the bottled water and fresh cooked garlic, but as far as the main course goes, it 's the same as any Italian restuarant I've been to.
(3)J C.
Pretty good food. I like the busy atmosphere. I like large portions so this place is for me. Ive had better italian but not that much better. I dont ever remember sitting at a boothe while dining here and thats good cause I dont like em. I also like to have to wait to get a table as it gives me a chance to have a couple beers/ coctails before hand and chat and this is a great place for that. i dont remember it being over priced at all, maybe some of the girl drinks are but i thought it was pretty reasonable. id give more like 3.5 stars if i could. --And to the other reviewer who complained he was asked to take his hat off. WTF to you sport, you're in a restaurant, take off your hat, your out to eat at a place other than your old frat buddies living room. Its just common courtesy fuzz nuts, Grow up. exceptions to the hat rule include mcdonalds, white castle, dicks last resort and maybe big kahuna burger.
(3)Ryan t.
When you walk into a restaurant, and there's a signed picture of former LA Dodgers manager and gastic bypass candidate Tommy Lasorda on the wall, you know you're about to have a good meal. I enjoy The Don, which is basically marinated beef tips over noodles with green peppers. The servings are enormous, and they also have a decent wine list. Plan ahead since on weekend nights, this place gets packed and getting a table can be a time consuming affair. But, the food is worth the wait.
(5)Scott B.
Great Italian! The best in Omaha I've come acrossed. Decor is kinda over the top but I love it!
(4)Katrina B.
After my last visit I've got to give this place a shaky three stars. Before it would have been four. I stopped in with the family about two weeks ago for dinner. We had a short wait before we sat down for dinner, so we had a drink in the bar area (the downstairs cocktail room was closed, disappointing). I thought the drinks were highly priced for Omaha (maybe I'm behind the times, $9 so-so martini in a casual restaurant?). Our waiter was adequate, but not super helpful, friendly or skillful. They must have been short on busboys because our table and others were sitting around without wineglasses and then with empty plates for a long time. The food had good flavor and enormous portions as always. However, the portabella app. was $9 and had only mushroom in it. The wine list is decent and the carbonara was fantastic. Point is, they're asking for higher prices than the spotty service, adequate food, kitschy decor, and LOUD dining space deserve. It's still a fun restaurant, but it's beginning to slide down the hill while sitting on its laurels.
(3)S A.
This place just didn't work for me. I felt like I was in a time warp or should be out on a date with someone at least twice my age - heck, like I should be at least twice my age. And, the prices weren't out of a time warp. The food was average, the service was good, but . . . it just didn't do it for me. Usually I can give you a little more info than that, but in this situation, that's all I've got. And not doing it for me gets ya 2 1/2 stars.
(2)Carla J.
I love this place! Sure, it's not authentic, and it's really cheesy. But for me, that's the best part. We don't go here often, but it's great for a night out. If you're going on a Friday or Saturday, be prepared to wait AT LEAST 30 minutes... but you can sit outside or at the bar and start with a bottle of wine (very reasonably priced). The best part of the meal is the bread, olive oil, and tomato basil topping... but the entrees are pretty great too. My favorite is the tortellini- even better than Sgt. Peffer's. Veal is good too. Not so big on the red meat sauce.
(5)Dan C.
Arguably the best restaurant in Omaha, great service, and the best Italian food in town. Now that they've expanded you can actually get seated at lunch most days. Even if you can't it's worth the wait.
(5)Pukar R.
My favorite Italian restaurant in Omaha. You get a huge serving and I always have left overs which I absolutely love having the next day (I think it tastes better). My favorite is the Pasta Reggio (bow tie pasta). Seating can be a bit problematic but I usually do carry out.
(5)Jeff H.
This is an excellent, traditional Italian restaurant that is a must if you are wanting to get away from the chains.
(5)Matt M.
I'm at a loss to understand the great ratings for this restaurant. I can say that they seem to pay a lot of attention to the ambiance. Obviously they would like to be taken for a high-end Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, the food doesn't come close to living up. Our meal began with the blandest, whitest bread that I've ever seen a restaurant serve. The accompanying olive oil, tomatoes, and roasted garlic were fair, though not as impressive as the waitress seemed to think. Next came a generous--though otherwise unimpressive--Caesar salad, which did not live up to its $3 premium. The salad itself was less than crisp, and the Caesar less than interesting. Finally, with an awkwardly delivered "buon appetito," the main courses arrived. To wit: chicken piccata, and salsiccia over penne. I only tasted a bite of the piccata, though my wife thought it was fine. As for my penne & sausage, I did not. The sauce was a monotonous amalgam which seemed to start with tomato paste and end with a sizable portion of brown sugar. Any other flavors which threatened to surface were kept well in check by the latter. Still, at this point, it seemed to me that a flavorful sausage could save the meal. Unfortunately, it was not to be. The sausage was dry and flavorless (which no sausage should be). I ate as much of this entree as I could, and didn't bother with a box. In all, I would say the experience was mediocre, or slightly less than. I have yet to find a really good Italian restaurant in Omaha, but I won't be giving Lo Sole Mio another chance.
(2)C B.
I love Lo Sole Mio. Do I think it's the best Italian in town? No, (that would be Malara's) but it's still top notch, so what the heck, right? The Michalangelo is my personal favorite, the tomato cream sauce is amazing. The bruschetta is outstanding as well, the roasted garlic can actually be spread on the bread like butter. For the quality and quantity the prices are very reasonable, and the service is smart and prompt. As many others have said, expect a wait if you go after 6 on a Friday or Saturday, but if you go early you can get right in.
(5)jane f.
I was very disappointed with the food quality in this restaurant. I have heard great things about this place the past three years and have been there twice. The first time I went was for an event with 30 people and I was disappointed in the food but thought I would give it another try. I went last night and I am wondering if people are judging this place on the quantity rather than the quality. The appetisers and Ceasar salad were good. When it came time for the main course I got a combination plate - it was cold when i tcame out and the alfredo sauce and pasta was definitly not homemade and the marinara tasted like prego. I would not go back here again.
(2)Tiffany M.
This is the best italian place to eat in Omaha, from the sald to the bread to the atmosphere. I love it. All sorts of different pasta and sauces you can eat.
(5)Russ C.
I have never understood the fascination with this place. This is a classic "quantity over quality" restaurant. I don't judge a plate on how much is on it. If I want that I'll go to Spaghetti Works. Spend the money on good product and train the staff how to cook them properly. The food was terrible, service was bad and clueless(we brought in a nice Oregon Pinot and were surprised to find they charged $15 for corkage. We were told it's because they have a wine list. OK, just to be clear, I DON"T DRINK CARLO ROSSI. I won't even cook with the stuff). I'll never go back.
(2)Tim H.
Does not accept reservations. If you want to have a long wait with your significant other than try their "first come, first serve" antiquated methods.
(1)Neeraj D.
When I die I would like to have my wake catered by Lo Sole Mio. Some of the best memories of Omaha that my fiancee and I have are with our outing to Lo Sole Mio. I have since returned to Omaha a few times and made it a point to visit Lo Sole Mio every time. The food, atmosphere, service, and experience makes this restaurant memory one of the best I have ever had in my life. The wait was long and it was a great that there was seating to accommodate us while we waited. The group next to us even brought their own snacks while waiting for their table. Enzo, our server played his role immaculately . The roasted garlic, diced tomatoes, and oh yeah, the dinner was a form of perfection. If I could I would give this holy shrine of culinary delight 6 or even more stars. Go to Lo Sole Mio. Even if you are not in Omaha, go to Lo Sole Mio. I may live in Chicago now but I still try to make an annual exodus to see my friends at Lo Sole Mio. Stop reading this and get out and go now! Life is too short to get enough of this place.
(5)Catherine Y.
I do not understand why this place is so popular. Omaha doesn't have many good Italian restaurants, at all, so likely accounts for their popularity. Food tastes like reheated frozen. Pasta Amore, in Rockbrook, is a better choice if you're looking for good Italian.
(1)Sheng S.
This is my favorite Italian restaurant in Omaha. Great food, and abundance of food. Just like good ol homestyle Italian food. Watch out for the soda refills! They charge for every refill. The bread is really good too.
(5)Ryan L.
My wife and I had a great experience at Lo Sole Mio and would recommend it highly to anyone. We rolled into Omaha on a Thursday night and had a hankering for good Italian food. We asked our inn keeper what she would recommend and quickly said this place. I'm glad that we decided to go there. The atmosphere was romantic and intimate; and the service was splendid. Now . . . onto the food! It was wonderful! My wife had the spaghetti with meatballs and it was super tasty. The meatballs were flavorful and had just the right spices. I had the veal parmesan (don't judge me for eating veal...I know where it comes from, but it tastes good) and loved every bite! It was tender and breaded nicely -- just the way it should taste. The pasta was cooked perfectly as well and came with a lovely marinara sauce. The wine selections were good to chose from as well; and we got a great tasting, full-bodied red to go with the meal. Diner includes warm bread and olive oil, with roasted garlic cloves and tomato (refills of the garlic and tomato are extra). We left extremely full and satisfied! Gotta try it!
(5)Kelly V.
Excellent calamari. The garlic Rosemary infused olive oil on the table was delicious with the homemade bread. Our service was probably the best I've ever had--the waitress did an excellent job filling our glasses. The portions were huge; so we had plenty to take home with us. Delightful experience. We ordered the tiramisu to go. It was yummy as well! A nice place to go when looking to celebrate a special day but you might want to arrive early since there are no reservations. We got there around 5:30, and there was no wait.
(4)Mary Ann S.
I really enjoyed coming here and i am a frequent customer too. My boyfriend and i were seated quite quickly, and the staff was very friendly. The dinning area can become quite crowded , but that is only due to how popular they are, but despite the number of people the ambiance is very calm and relaxing. I love the decor too the mural by the bar and wait area and the greek statues and art pieces everywhere really help tie the restaurant together. If going their i would definitely recommend their chicken parmesan and the battered octopus it is delicious. If you are a salad person their caesar salad is amazing too. Another great thing about them is that you are never left waiting, the staff ensures that your drinks are refilled and stay filled and that all your needs are meet. The only time that can get a little lengthy is waiting for the check but by that time i am so full and relaxed i am just fine with waiting a bit. So if your looking for a nice place o take your date , or just a family night out to dinner i would give Lo Sole Mio a visit for sure.
(5)Shelby B.
Sometimes memories are best left to the past. When my wife and I lived closer, we used to stop in for what I remember as a great Italian meal. In addition, those memories were of large portions, leaving stuffed with enough left overs for a meal or two more. Fast forward ten years and we were back. The place looks the same, a bit gaudy, but in an old school Italian place good kind of way. My wife started with a Thunderbird salad, and I had the soup. The soup was pretty good overall, but my wife's salad was lacking. She commented that it appeared Bacon Bits were used instead of actual bacon (or at minimum the tiny bacon pieces were the consistency of bacon bits). For my main course, I had the Chicken Parmigiana. It was okay, but overall did not match my memories of years ago. While the portions are still large (we both had leftovers to bring home), it simply was just an average meal overall. If I was 17 and wanted to impress my prom date with a fancy meal, this would fit the bill, but as a grown up, this was unfortunately mediocre.
(3)Liz P.
If you want homemade, high quality Italian with huge portions so you can eat a second meal later, this is the place for you. Service is thorough and fantastic. I love the traditions of having the bruschetta and garlic on the table. From a vegetarian perspective, there are lots of options, from pasta to eggplant (a friend that works there told me they bake it not fry it, which made me super happy) to salads. I really don't know anyone in Omaha who doesn't love Lo Sole!
(5)Karina C.
Nice Italian restaurant in town. Decoration is a little outdated, but service is great and food is delicious. They are known for their pastas. I had one with spinach, tomato and chicken. Had leftovers for two days. The person I went with said his food was really good too. The place was pretty full for a Monday. They have a good amount of parking space. Very family friendly as it has several big round tables. Good for dates.
(4)Nicole C.
Craving Italian, we had lunch here with family on Saturday and it did not disappoint. Hadn't been here for a while and forgot how good it is. The pre-meal bread, roasted garlic, diced tomato, and olive oil to dip the bread in is a fantastic treat. I opted for the salad with gorgonzola instead of soup and the house Italian is definately the way to go. I ordered the eggplant parmesan with a side of pasta and it was delicious. Others got the tortillini, a pizza, steak sandwich and lunch steak and were not disappointed either. Also, at Lo Sole Mio you can pretty much expect to leave with leftovers. The lunch portions didn't seem smaller than the dinner menu, just less expensive. The ambience and decor was quite nice - not too fancy nor too casual. The servers were very pleasant and quickly took care of all the needs at our table.
(5)Kurt S.
Lo Sole Mio. A very good Italian Restaurant. My wife and I went to Lo Sole Mio last Friday, (three days ago), right after work for dinner so we can spend a gift certificate that my parents got us for our wedding anniversary last year, (I know, last year). They open at 4 and I got there right at 4. There weren't any other customers and I was seated immediately. They recently redid the entrance and bar and it looked really nice. the overall restaurant was a tad dim though. My wife has poor eyesight, but she could hardly read the menu when she arrived and sat down. The hostess and the waitress were both really professional and down to earth. The food came out quickly as well. I ordered the Pasta Pollo and Prosciutto with Fettuccine. it was awesome. The Asiago cream sauce that they used was amazing. The chicken was a tad tough, but the pasta and prosciutto was prepared great. The portion was huge. I ate a little and took it home for two additional meals. My wife ordered the Chicken Piccata and she enjoyed hers as well. The prices are right on the money, IMO. If I can eat free bread, and then take home some of my entree to get two more meals, its worth the price. Mine was $21 and my wife's was also $21. And the food was great to top it off! All in all, I really like this restaurant. Very good food and a nice, romantic setting. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Jenny B.
Lo Sole Mio is one of the nicer Italian options in Omaha. They have a pretty extensive menu, and everything I've ever gotten here has been good. My favorite part of the meal (as usual) is the bread served with bruschetta (which you now have to request, but it's still complimentary), oil, and roasted garlic. They do a "house wine" on the table, which is a tankard of Carlos-whatever-bottom-shelf-jug-wine, but it's tasty and I'm no wine snob! I think most of my affinity for Lo Sole Mio is sentimental--I got married in their banquet hall and coming back home we always eat here with my family and reminisce. I agree with others that people probably laud this place out of habit as many people have good memories of eating here, but sometimes that's just as important as the food. Definitely try it out!
(4)Bella R.
I have just been there. The hostess and attendants were rushing all around, as they had discussed, were nervous or so - not the kind of ambience for a Sunday luch, I should have gone as soon as I was sat. They served a very good roasted garlic and fresh tomato sauce as appetizer and offered sparkling water (for a price). And those were the highlights of the lunch. Food was supper blend - a shrimp pasta and a fresh tomato pasta, but at least the pastas were "al dente". My waitress misunderstood my drink directions, got something else :S. We will never go back.
(2)Pranith S.
Excellent food. Huge portions. Good service. Very good desserts. Totally worth it. Make sure you arrive at the restaurant early. They do not seat you until the entire party arrives.
(5)Chad K.
I think this place is a little overrated. Much like some of Omaha's other well-established restaurants (this one has been an Omaha favorite since 1992) it seems to be loved more out of habit than out of merit. I'm not implying the place is bad. It is not. It's very good. It's just not the pinnacle of Italian dining that so many people would have you believe. On a scale of 1-10 you can expect good solid 7 cuisine. The place is very pasta-centric. If you're someone that gets irritated every time an Italian cuisine consists primarily of pasta, then you might want to dine elsewhere. Omahans love their pasta and this place knows it and caters to it. With the endless supply of complimentary bread, oven-roasted garlic, olive oil, and tomatos with herbs as an appetizer I'm not sure why anyone would pay for an appetizer here. Just stuff your face with bread and all of its wonderful condiments. They do have butter upon request if you prefer it to the olive oil. On my most recent visit (lunch on a Saturday) I ordered the Pasta Michelangelo with Capellini (Ground Italian Sausage and Mushrooms in a Light Cream Marinara Sauce). It was very tasty and a very huge portion. I'm a big guy and I took half of it home with me. I'm also a guy that likes his pasta swimming in a TON of sauce and they did not disappoint. I hate having dry pasta because I run out of sauce and that is never a problem at Lo Sole Mio. So, if you're not a fan of lots of sauce then let your wait person know. I won't comment on the wine list as I don't order wine in restaurants. Even for a restaurant spendthrift like myself I cannot stomach the mark-up. I drink wine at home where it's good, hand-selected by myself, and perfectly priced. This place gets crowded and they do not take reservations (or call ahead seating) and they will not seat you until your ENTIRE party is present. So, keep that in mind when you dine here. You may be in for quite a wait and there may not be anywhere at the bar to sit. They have outdoor seating, but it's sort of shoved up against the building with a thick layer of dust. So, I'm not sure it is ever used by anyone nor have I ever been asked if I'd like to dine outside..
(4)Mark L.
I just enjoyed a wonderful dinner at Lo Sole Mio with my wife and daughter. We were seated quickly and greeted well by the waitstaff. The dining room is crowded, I'm sure because they try to serve as many people as possible, but the ambiance is still very pleasant for dinner. We started with a flat bread as an appetizer which was crisp and fresh and tasty. At our table we had servings of the chicken Tuscany, chicken with pasta and prosciutto, and shrimp Gorgonzola on spinach fettuccine. Each dish was well prepared and very delicious. Our server, Meg, was attentive but not intrusive, and the support staff kept our waters full and the table cleared between courses. For a nice dinner out after being at the Orpheum for a performance, Lo Sole Mio was a great choice!
(4)Alex T.
Always great food. A glimpse into the traditional family owned italian restaurant of little Italy. Great food, from a great family .
(5)Jessica B.
I never thought the food was great, but I went for the third time because my sister wanted to go for her birthday. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday night and we arrived at 5:50pm. They said it would be an hour. OK, we waited. I have a 4yo, so this wait was already pushing it. Except, every time after 7pm that we asked them if we would be seated soon, they said 15-20 minutes. I get it that they cannot predict how long it will take, but we would have left if we would have known it would be 8:10pm until we were even seated. (waited over 2 hours for a seat). It would have been nice of them to be honest instead of saying it'll be an hour wait. Seems like this could be remedied pretty quickly by taking reservations. Our waitress was an older lady that seemed to hate her job. I asked if she could get a quick order in for my daughter because she was starving. The waitress was bothered at my request and said "we have a protocol that I tell you about our Italian customs first". Ummm ok, sure.. She did order the kid's meal after that. We had all decided what we wanted during our 2hr long wait, so we were ready to order right away, yet that took 20 minutes to just get the order in. We didn't get our food until after 9:15pm. Thankfully they gave us bread because we all were getting hangry. We wanted to leave, but had already invested so much time waiting... we were getting food! The food was ok. Seriously I don't get it. Why is this place popular? The food is average at best. Very expensive. Lots of great food options in Omaha, but I would never put this on the list of restaurants that are worth what they charge. My dish was $22... for pasta and some sauce. Shortly after 9:45pm the waitress came around to ask how we were doing and I asked for boxes. She said "it's our protocol to wait until everyone was done eating unless you are going to be leaving early!"... REALLY? I have been here for many HOURS and my child needs sleep and I'm so tired of being here! I never expected a dinner to take nearly 4 hours, then to have the waitress get short with me so many times because the restaurant has so many "protocols" and rules. WTF is this the mafia? Then, she brings a box and starts grabbing my plate. I find it gross when people leave with my plate to box it up so I asked her to just leave the box so I could box it please. She says "it's just our policy that we box it for you". I've seriously had it at this point. Done. Our party of 7 all said how awful this experience was and will not be returning. My mom and sister really liked this place before, but they won't be returning.
(1)Annette D.
Went here the other night and it was great! I loved the bread that they give you first. I could have had a whole meal with just the bread and salad. The chicken pesto was delicious!! Will definitely be back!!
(4)Erin F.
It's just ok. The waitstaff was fairly inept: almost spilled water on us twice, kept trying to fill water glasses after we said 'no thank you' reached across plates without saying 'excuse me', and we had to ask for every drink refill as well as bread (even the first basket). Make sure you have a long lunch hour because the service is SLOW! I ordered the lasagna, the pasta was over cooked and the flavor was ok but not outstanding. The only reason I gave it three stars is because the pizza one of the other people in our party ordered was pretty good and bread and olive oil is tasty.
(3)Scott N.
I read many of the reviews before going to Lo Sole Mio for my going away dinner. I was a little nervous and a little worried about the service, mostly. I arrived early (5:00 PM). It must have been shift change. It was time for the woman behind the counter to go home. Thank goodness!! She was LOUD! "Hey Lady, we're in an eating establishment. User your inside voice!!!!" Holy moly, this didn't bode well. The music... selections from the 50s that had some tie to Italy, I'm guessing, was also very loud. The gang arrived ,we got to our table and everything turned around. The waitress was fantastic. She was attentive, knowledgable and funny. When she brought the checks, all the pens had flowers on them. She told a story of a couple in for their 60th wedding anniversary. The waitress brought a pen with a rose on it. The woman was delighted, "Oh how nice, a rose" to which her husband replied, "It's a pen, you idiot". I ordered the special, an eight ounce filet mignon smothered in mushrooms. I eat a lot of steak. This steak was one of the best I've ever eaten. It was done to perfection (medium rare), tender, melt in my mouth deliciousness. The mushrooms added a slightly salty flavor that complimented the steak beautifully. Most of us had peppermint ice cream for dessert. It was the perfect ending to the meal. Two shared the Tiramisu, which was easily enough for two. They raved about it. A little more professionalism at the front desk may have garnered Lo Sole Mio five stars. Finally, they don't take reservations so plan accordingly.
(4)Michelle P.
Our meal was mouthwatering -life changing & we can't wait to go back. The bread, roasted garlic, $ tomato basil are the best ! Seriously the food at Ol Sole Mio Is the BEST Italian food in Omaha! Hands down! It's worth every penny ! My husband had the Italian sausage & peppers . He said at the end of the meal he's already dreaming about going back! "I've had many different dishes & nothing disappoints . enjoy
(5)Shelley A.
Really nice, quaint atmosphere. The food is great and great service. A great spot for a date night, anniversary or special occasion. Very large portions so expect leftovers. I loved the complimentary roasted garlic. The Tira Misu was the best I have ever had!
(5)Thom D.
An authentic family Italian restaurant. It is great to have this place now that all the Caniglia places are gone.
(5)Bri M.
I'm from out of town and was visiting family when we came here midday, around 2pm. The place was deserted, so we essentially had the whole thing to ourselves. I'm glad the waiter warned us about drinking the bottled water on the table (not free)! The food was good, came out fast. I ordered pasta (what else) with chicken, spinach, tomatoes and some sort of cheese. The bread with olive oil, plus the tomatoes as an appetizer was delicious. I finished with a cappuccino; my family had the chocolate cake and the tiramisu. Good stuff! Much better than the overrated, cheap imitation that is the Olive Garden restaurant chain. Service was okay, but they were clearly gearing up for the dinner crowd. One waiter made a comment to me and my family twice about how we needed to "Calm down, it's only Tuesday." I think she was trying to be funny but it didn't sit well, as we were only giggling and again, no one else was in the restaurant. Further, we didn't have anything to drink sooo..... Idk?
(4)Scott E.
A few people told us about this place so on a cold January night we decided to check it out. The place was packed at 8PM. We waited in the bar for twenty minutes by the warm fire place. The greeters were friendly. The Italian design and painting set the mood. Our server Sara M was amazing. When we return we will ask for her section. If you could clone a waiter, Sara M our pick for best waiter we have ever encountered. She was friendly, professional, efficient and assertively suggestive with each of our orders to be certain we selected the best option on the menu for what we desired. She knows the menu. She understands that we trust her and depend on her for guidance. More waiters should understand this. We are new guests and want the best experience possible. Sara had our back. The warm garlic and oil with bread is awesome. The entrees were excellent. Pollo Prosciutto with linguine noodles is spectacular. The beef ravioli appetizer was not good. Tasted deep fried frozen, not fresh. My big disappointment was no Bolognese sauce, known in Italian as ragù alla bolognese, was on the menu. This is why I eat at a local Italian restaurant. The price was moderate. We enjoyed sitting next to the group of eight priests all wearing their collars. It felt like an Italian movie. We will be back.
(4)Kaysha H.
I was VERY impressed with Lo Sole! My husband and I spent our 4 year wedding anniversary. We were greeted by two nice hostess and taken care of very well by our waitress Kellie! it was a great experience and possibly a new anniversary tradition. Thank you!!
(5)Amy L.
Beautiful family owned restaurant with amazing quality food. The restaurant it self feels very warm and inviting, looks kind of like someone's home (a little kitchy), this would be a great place for a relaxed, intimate date night. The prices are amazing for the quality of the food. I really enjoyed my visit and will definitely be visiting again soon!
(4)Kevin J.
Lo Sole Mio has had its ups and downs as of lately. We enjoy Italian a lot so I had been a bit disappointed the last couple of times in the last two years. Today at lunch I was pleasantly surprised by the service and the food in general. As many of you know they give you plenty to eat here, no skipping on the amount of pasta with a meal. Th salads are large and the bread, olive oil, parmesan and bruschetta plentiful upon request. Everyone in my group thoroughly enjoyed the food. Although, it is not gourmet and the prices (especially at dinner) seem to be higher than needed for the type of food prepared, I give it another thumbs up! I had the pasta spinaci and the thunderbird salad. Highly recommended.
(4)Steve B.
I've been very disappointed in my last three visits, I don't think I'll waste my money there again.
(1)Josh W.
Place is completely overrated. I told waitress that i couldn't have a specific side dish for allergic food restrictions. So, i ordered a different side dish. She came out with my food and told me she was out of the regular side and brought the side i can't ingest. So, she said she would bring me more vegetables that consisted of 3 more green beans. I don't usually complain but my meal was not good. From low quality beef to a poor waitress. The best part was the bread. And for as much money as i dropped for new years eve i am disappointed. for as expensive as is it was i will never return. I had a awful veal parm. And a worse salad. This Italian restaurant is a joke. I try to support family owned businesses in Omaha, but this restaurant is a laughing stockok
(1)A J.
Been going since year 2 of business. Never disappoints. Can't beat the atmosphere. Neighborhood ethnic restaurants are a dying breed. This is one of the best in that category and a perennial top 10 overall Italian establishment in the metro. Had the veal parm, partner had tortellini. Split a tiramisou for desert and all was outstanding. Waitress went way out of her way to offer her favorites for consideration. Service was great on a busy Saturday night. Salad was fresh, house Italian dressing was blah. Not sure it is anything other than red wine vinegar with a little olive oil. Glad I added anchovies and gorgonzola to the salad. I also drizzled extra olive oil and added ground pepper to kick in some flavor. Bread was super fresh. There are no gimics with this this place. You feel like you walked into your Italian aunt's dining room and she's gonna whip up a homemade Italian dish for you. Really good stuff every time.
(4)Brittany L.
I was wowed at first by the bread, bruschetta mix, roasted garlic, and seasoned olive oil. You don't even need to order an appetizer. There was fresh grated Parmesan on the table as well. The salad was pretty good and fresh, and the service was excellent. But that's where all the good stuff stops. We had a very hard time deciding what entrees to order because they all sounded SO good. I thought I had finally found a good Italian restaurant in the Midwest. We ended up getting the pastas Michelangelo and arrabiatta. My boyfriend's penne Michelangelo was edible but not great. My linguine arrabiatta was absolutely disgusting. I can't even over exaggerate how terrible it was. I ate one bite. He tasted it and agreed with me. The sauces here are very thin and old fashioned, which seems to be how every single Midwestern Italian restaurant is. I feel bad for the locals around here who have never tasted good Italian food or pizza, and for myself for having moved away from the east coast.
(1)George W.
This was a place that I was told had great food, and I finally found a few friends to try it out with. The portions are enormous - honestly, I couldn't finish my dinner, and I like food. The food itself for all of us was tasty and just plain good. The place was packed, and the bread kept on coming. No compliant's - I'll be back again. This is a really good Italian place.
(4)Ann A.
Terrible and RUDE!!!!!! Employees need to be taught better customer service!!! Manager was extremely arrogant and did not care about the problem. Food was also cold and not very good I do not recommend this restaurant.
(1)Ka'ili H.
Italian food is one of my foodie weaknesses. If I could go anywhere and eat anything I wanted I'd choose anywhere in Italy to enjoy a food tour with my foodie boyfriend and anyone else who would like to join us on our Italian foodie tour. The first time and a few times after that, that I had tried Lo Sole Mio was through take out only. I had always enjoyed the food and was thrilled to find out that my boyfriend wanted to eat here to celebrate our anniversary. We came during dinner time on a week night and sat at the far end next to the wall. I loved the family atmosphere and the energy from the other customers there. Our waitress, Marissa, was polite and nice. I especially loved the tomato bruschetta that you must ask for now, it was so delicious I'm going to try to replicate it at home! My boyfriend and I both ordered the chicken alfredo with angel hair pasta with artichoke. It took awhile for our order to come as we were pretty starving. We also order the sampler appetizer to keep our famished selves tied over until our main meal came. I loved the bread they gave us and the calamari was delicious! Our main meal was just as lovely. There were large pieces of chicken and artichokes throughout the dish and was just great! When it was time for dessert I asked our waitress if it would take long for the dessert to come out, she said it would take a second. That was more like ten minutes and it was quite small for $6 in my opinion, but it was all right. I enjoyed our dinner here and look forward to visiting again soon. But, I think if I had a choice, I'd probably get it to go, since the wait time for the food is quite awhile. Loved celebrating our anniversary here and hopefully one day we'll go on a foodie tour in Italy!
(4)Pattie L.
I have eaten here several times and have to say that it is the best Italian food I've ever had. It's all authentic and obviously made from scratch. My personal favorite menu item is the Chicken Marsala, it's to die for. I love the sweet baby carrots and always ask for extra. I love the fact they serve fresh roasted garlic as a spread for the bread, so delicious. Entree size is large, you're guaranteed delicious leftovers to have the next day! It's perfect ambiance for a special night out and super easy to call ahead for takeout. A must try, trust me, you'll love it!
(5)Randy C.
I debated between one and two stars. Sauces are flavorless, wine list is a joke, house wine is awful, portions are absurdly huge, and the pasta is just the same stuff you would get from the local grocery store. This place is loved because you receive enough food for three meals. I've been to places in Chicago and Boston with similar prices and vastly superior food. If you're really hungry and don't care what your food tastes like, this is a perfect place for you.
(2)Leslie S.
Food was a huge disappointment. I ordered florentine chicken pasta dish. My chicken was horribly overcooked and I think they forgot to bust out the spices because it had no flavor at all. The spinach added some flavor to the dish - along with the massive amounts of parmesan and salt that I had to add to make it taste like anything I'd like to eat, let alone pay quite a bit of money for. My husband ordered Nicks trio (or something like that), and ended up throwing away the leftovers the next day. This is a beef eating man who threw away steak!!! WTH? This place is hit or miss. I have been on the "miss" end on most occasions, so will be closing the book on my visits to this restaurant.
(1)Jim L.
Lots of back and forth on this place. The story from my point of view is ten years ago I would've given this place five stars easy. I used to take customers here for lunch, New Yorkers, Germans, Nederlanders, you name it. One fellow from NYC, an Italian himself, loved the place, said it was just like the little neighborhood places he knew from back home. That was then. What's different now? The decoration, the over-crowded seating plan, and the menu are all the same, as well as the huge portions, but the food has fallen badly. Last two times we've been here (last August and the August before that; my wife used to like this place for her birthday dinner), we've taken most of our meals home. Where it sat in the fridge 'til it got old and had to be thrown out. My taste buds tell me they haven't changed the recipes. What's changed is the care and concern in putting it all together. ALL the pasta was way overcooked. The bread, usually not the best bread around but adequate for the purpose, was a bit stale. Spices aren't balanced anymore. Last time out, I had a taste of everyone else's dishes, as no one was liking it much. Same story across the board. My own linguini with white clam sauce, a long-time favorite, had that cloying sweet taste you find in a jar of alfredo sauce from the grocery store. I don't know where that comes from. It's clam sauce. Olive oil, butter, clam juice, clams, parmesan cheese, spices; how do you screw that up? It's not that they use canned clams. Personally, while I love fresh clams, I'm fine with canned clams. But the whole thing was bland, icky sweet, and soggy from overcooked pasta. And that pretty much describes everything else I tried. I don't really think they need to do much to get this place back to five-star. Just go back to what they were doing ten years ago. Snap out of that lazy toss-it-all-together-and-get-it-out-of-the-window mentality that seems to have set in. And really, I wouldn't mind smaller portions and lower price points, and I don't think anyone would complain if they tightened up the menu; it's about twice the size it really needs to be. But if you don't want to do all that, just go back to doing what you used to do so well. I hope the proprietors are reading these reviews. Drop me a line and tell me when you've pulled yourself together, and we'll be back. But if it's gonna be like the last coupla times, I'll hit Carrabba's instead. Yeah it's a chain, but right now it's kicking your butt.
(2)Nick V.
Food was good as always. The service was fine. Previous reviews noted bad service but that was not my experience. This is one of the better Italian restaurants I have been to in the area. Prices are reasonable for what you get and quality of food.
(4)Karen B.
This USED to be one of my favorite restaurants when I first moved to Omaha. However, the last several times I went have changed my mind. It seems like the quality of the food has declined dramatically. It used to have more flavor, it used to taste fresh, it used to be an enjoyable experience. The only reason I can think of that they are still so busy is the "we always come here" mindset?? I hope the owners/managers read these reviews and change things back to the way they were. You know the expression "cooked with love"? It really does make a difference, because when you cook with love, you truly care how the food tastes and that your guests enjoy it...they are no longer cooking with love.
(2)David H.
pretty darn tasty authentic style Italian food
(4)Jim G.
Went here for wife's bday last week. I have to agree with a lot of the reviews. You get a lot of food but it's not the best Italian food in the Omaha area. Service was ok, waitress was more concerned with explaining about the bread (which was unimpressive and cold) and how to pour oil on a plate and add garlic and cheese. Roasted garlic is good. While she was explaining about the bread and specials, she overlooked asking us for drinks. Had to ask for drink other than water. Don't get me wrong, the food is good but not fantastic. Soup was tasty and my shrimp were prepared properly but $27 for a bowl of pasta and sauce with 5 or 6 shrimp is a little much. Wife enjoyed her bday dinner and that is really all that counts. I would not wait an hour for the food like some I guess do. Lastly, the tip was rung in wrong and I ended up giving an extra 10 buck tip. I contacted the office and was told the mistake would be corrected. I guess will have to wait (hopefully wont have the same fate as others who have had issues). If you want a lot of food with leftovers, this is the place for you, just don't expect anything spectacular.
(3)Derek B.
I think I might have set the bar just a little too high for this place. When you walk in and see the surroundings, you really feel like you're going to get THE BEST. Unfortunately, that wasn't quite the case for our visit. We started out with an appetizer while we waited. The appetizer ended up being our favorite part of the meal (which is kind of sad, but true.) Flat Bread Florentine was excellent, one of our best apps we've ever had. Also had multiple drinks including gin and tonics, wine, and my wife got a "girly" drink. All the drinks were good. Our main course, however, was a little disappointing. I had the Jumbo shrimp and crab dish and was able to sub the alfredo sauce instead of marinara. It was fine, but, just not a ton of flavor as I'm used to with nicer Italian places. I ended up putting a bunch of the garlic cloves that they give you for bread into the dish and this made it MUCH better. My wife chose a pasta with mushrooms and pea's with totellini. No meat, (not a good idea.) Hers had hardly any flavor at all. Both dishes needed onion, oregano, or some kind of italian herbs and spices to help them out. Both of our salad's and other sides were good. I don't know, I think maybe we just sat the bar a little high. But, honestly, I've had just as good of food (or better) at Grissanti's at less cost. Since our visit, we've had a few people suggest trying Nicola's next time.
(3)Paul K.
BIG DINNER. I had a really fun time at this place. There was a lot of red sauce and huge piles of food and wine and it was SO crowded. They give you enough food for three people. Do not eat all the food! This is a great spot for a group on the town. You might have to wait to be seated, but they have a nice bar area, and you can get started on some wine while you wait. ABBONDANZA!
(4)Pradeep R.
I had Chicken Marsala. The chicken was perfectly done. But the whole dish was very greasy. Also, I wanted roasted potatoes but got carrots instead. I am not sure if I will return, but worth a try.
(4)Dianne M.
BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! A lot of people told me I HAD to try this place. Do Not go here if you are in a hurry. Finally got seated and they got the drinks and the bread. Waited a long time for the appetizer of calimari and it was good. But they didn't take our food order until the appetizer came out. They did not bring the soup/salad until after we finished the appetizer. The caesar salad and clam chowder was good...but the bowl of clam chowder was barely half full. The wait for our soup/salad was about 1/2 hour. Then the wait for our main course was another 1/2 hour, if not more. Husband had the Maria's special, he said it was good. I had the veal parmesan it was just ok too. We left the house before 6pm and didn't get home until after 9. I doubt we will go back. I also think it's over priced for the quality of food. Parking lot is very small.
(1)John M.
The staff was super friendly and the food was good. Typical Omaha italian family fare. Our party of three left happy and full. The portions are very good. So is the fried ravioli appetizer, tiramisu and tortellini. There is free wifi although it is a bit slow. They don't take reservations.
(3)Reed N.
This is a great little Omaha place tucked into a neighborhood. Nothing else around but houses. Very nice. Let me get right to the highlights. Generally good staff and all were pleasant. Server was particularly pleasant. Copious food selections. I had the Thunderbird salad upgrade [just do it!] and the Carbonara [traditional]. Both were excellent and the portion of pasta was colossal. The bread and oil presentation was a hit for me. They have a nice fruity infused oil and parmesan, roated garlic cloves, and herbed tomato dice for making your own concoctions. The bread is OK but these little bowls of goodies were heaven! : ) The wine list is OK, with most major Italian wines represented. The prices seemed reasonable to me.
(4)Robert K.
So disappointing, this is not quality Italian. Many Omaha people rave about this restaurant, but quantity does not equal quality. The red sauce was a complete let down.
(2)Kyle T.
Difficult to get into on the weekends and parking's a chore to say the least. The food isn't bad, but it's certainly overpriced. $16 for pasta with pesto. Spaghetti and meatballs: $16. Really?
(2)Christa Lei S.
Yeah... it's not that great. I do like the bread and stuff. It's awesome, but it's average Italian food. They're always busy, and I give them a star because they were attentive even when they were super busy... and they apologized profusely. Portions are big, food is subpar.
(2)Audrey R.
Being 100% Romana Italian I will provide my option of my dinning experience at Lo Solo Mia. Our server without saying was outstanding and provided great description of the menu. The fresh tomato salad provided, once requested, is very good. Cooked garlic served as well good. Bread served was basic. I prefer Italian bread that has a nice crisp crust and served warm. Ordered appetizers which: Fried artichokes were prepared very well but the melted lemon butter. They should not be drowning it it. Dizzied over the top should be sufficient. Prosciutto and Melon, melon was very sweet but the prosciutto had no taste and dry edges as if it was per cut. A good imported prosciutto has flavor, hint of salt/sweet taste to it with thin edges of fat. This tasted like boiled ham. Very disappointed that the house salad was served with iceberg lettuce. Are you kidding me. I asked for balsamic vinaigrette and received a side of balsamic vinegar, not the same... Main pasta dishes are to large. In Italy pasta is not served in this magnitude. The red sauce was over cooked by hours as it was almost a burgundy color, bitter acidic tomato paste taste. Shrimp Gorgonzola. Nice size shrimp cooked correctly except the watered down flavorless sauce was much to be desired. I had it with fettuccine which was over cooked. Italians prepare pasta 'al dente. Simple garnish of fresh parsley would be mush better as many people do not like paprika sprinkled on their food. As for the cannoli, they need to be stuffed with ricotta that can be tasted. We were confused if it was whipped cream or whipped cream with a hint of ricotta cheese. Either way, NOT a true Italian cannoli. Disappointed Italian dinning experience when you truly know how good quality Italian food is prepared.
(2)Jenny W.
Drove to this restaraunt at about 6:30 pm Saturday, which granted I expected to be busy. There was heavy traffic and very limited parking. An employee was trying to cross the street to the adjacent banquet hall and I slowed down to let him across the street. The restaraunt's employee starting waiving his arms and giving the finger to wife and I. We decided to pass.
(1)Charlie K.
A lot of omahans think this is the best place to get authentic Italian food. The Losoles may be Italian natives but I would hardly call their food authentic Italian cuisine and more like overpriced Italian inspired cuisine. A dinner is going to run you 15-30 bucks a person. The portions are huge but if you want to just share a plate they have a plate sharing charge that costs around 3 bucks! I wouldn't waste my money on any of their pasta entrees. I haven't tasted a sauce there that was better than any other generic Italian restaurant. I would recommend ordering their pizza though. The prices for the pizza aren't bad and they're really good actually. You can only get pizza for lunch or you can order it for takeout any time. Also their bread and soup is good! All in all the food isn't BAD but I wouldn't chose to spend my money there. Maybe a free meal.
(2)Mike S.
Lo Sole Mio was recommended by a few of my former co-workers, but it took me several tries on different days to actually get in here as they do not take reservations and the wait is often long especially on weekends. Finally made it in about a year ago, shortly before I moved away. It was a fun experience. Can't remember what I had, but it was good. Also, it is street parking which can be a little trying if they are busy. Lo Sole Mio was definitely a solid choice.
(3)Sara K.
Had I remembered to review this place after my first visit, about a month ago, I would have been able to give Lo Sole Mio 2 stars.... Now I wish I could give it ZERO... The decor is over the top as everyone has stated, but I kind of enjoy it in a way...gives me a laugh at the very least because of how cheesy it really is. The wait staff is good...nothing spectacular, but nothing horrible either. Where they really went wrong was the food. Starting with the bread, oil and Parmesan on our table--there was definitely something wrong with that cheese. My boyfriend commented that it smelled like paint chips and it didn't get better after tasting it. Our soups and salads were well below what was expected...the salad was far too overdressed and the minestrone soup had over cooked vegetables and undercooked noodles. Oh did I mention there were a total of 1 1/2 noodles in the bowl of soup? The entrees are what set me over the top though. We ordered the Tortellini and the Pasta & Pollo. Both dishes were HUGE! Did someone tell them they are cooking for an entire football team? Typically you would think a dish with stuffed pasta would come with a smaller portion than a dish without, right? Wrong! The tortellini was piled high and comes in what they describe as a "creamy white sauce," and that is really all they can call it considering it tasted like heated up heavy cream with some salt mixed in. My Pasta & Pollo was absolutely horrendous though (but how does it get worse than heavy cream as a pasta sauce?). The penne was outrageously over cooked...and the chicken tasted as if it was either 2 days past expiration or been sitting out all day. After 3 bites, I was done and told our waitress I could not and would not be eating it. She was very apologetic about it, however she never sent a manager over and when the bill came everything was still full priced. I wasn't expecting for a complete meal comp considering the soup and bread are part of the meal price, but couldn't believe they would ignore a clearly unhappy customer. For a restaurant that prides itself on being family run and one of Omaha's Best, you would think they would have better customer service and far better food. They sacrifice all quality for quantity. I feel sick to my stomach still (from I think the chicken) and will never be returning.
(1)Amanda P.
delicious Italian resturaunt! service was fabulous and the dishes were superb. I look forward to going back to this place soon.
(4)Dave H.
I'd give this place 3.5 stars. Walked in, and I was asked to take off my hat while the lady at the table across from us got to wear her hat, a big WTF and F U.... But I'm not salty (much). Started off with the calamari. Probably one of the worst calamari's I've ever had, since I consider myself a calamari expert. It was 10 bucks and came with 10 small pieces of calamari fried in a way that I thought resembled chicken nuggets. For an entree I got the waitress' suggestion of the big nick's combo, which was a little tiresome because it was so meaty with the marinara sauce, the bratwurst, and the fried steak. My friend got the shrimp scampi which was surprisingly good (especially after the disappointing calamari). I also noticed a sexism discrepancy because the women were waitresses and the men were the busboys or water refillers. Don't know what's up with that. But I will come back here to try something different, perhaps my opinion will change later.
(3)Ben K.
Pros: Charming Cons: Not that great of Italian Lo Sole Mio's at one point was a three and a half-four star restaurant in my book, but it's slipping. I've had many meals here and though it's never been the best Italian food in the world, I always found it to be a charming and fun experience. However, I found the quality to be slowly dropping, to the point where the last time I went I wasn't impressed by the meal at all. They use way too much salt on everything. Every meal I had it felt like I was being spoon fed large amounts of salt. I went through a few glasses of water just to wash the salt taste out of my mouth. The fish I had was chewy and rubbery. Just not very satisfying. The restaurant gets a 3.5 for it's charming atmosphere, but only a one for food quality.
(2)Chris S.
Ok I'll start with saying that I used to use this as THE place to take a date to impress her you know that 1st date place to really impress a girl. Recently my finances haven't been in the $80 to $100 for a meal range, so I haven't been here in a few years... but I got married and for valentines day I thought I'd take my wife to this place and really blow her mind... Needless to say her mind was blown, took 65 mins to get our food we had a musical to go see, and didn't expect more than an hour or so for dinner, but we had a little time to spare. (Canceled some little stuff she would have loved) Then the food was all bland and salty? We complained mentioning the fact we needed to be somewhere for our Valentines date to continue they offered bluntly "Would you like to take it with you?" to which I said "If we thought it was nasty here is it going to taste better out of a microwave later?" The waitress then told me "We don't do refunds, but if you'd like we can make you something else." I reminded her that we had to be somewhere very soon because it took so long to get the food we didn't have time for something else. As it turns out they really don't do refunds...or remove items from your bill. So $90 later with no food in our stomachs we leave... I called and spoke with the day manager the next day told her the whole thing... she offered 3 times to send me vouchers for 2 free meals over a half hour conversation, on the 3rd time I accepted... Figured if the food was bad this time at least it would be free. 2 weeks later I called and asked about the vouchers.... they weren't sent but they would get those right out to me... 2 weeks later I called and asked about the vouchers.... they weren't sent but they would get those right out to me... (same sentence but different phone call) 2 years 7 months later still never got those vouchers and have never been back!!!!
(1)Sharon J.
I give this place 4 stars because I do make my own Italian food and happen to think my family recipe for sauce is the best. But the food and atmosphere here is wonderful, makes you feel like you are in Italy! Portions are large just like Nana's and are very rich and tasty! I usually get the Chicken Parmesan, and love the homemade bread and oil along with the traditional Italian salad. Great place for a romantic dinner!
(4)Richard T.
The portions are as if an Italian grandmother is admonishing you to EAT! EAT! The decor/music is a mish mash of old world & newer Italian leads & the dining table setups are VERY close. The previous just clues one in to the popularity of Signora Losole's establishment. I had the Salsicchia & peperoni which I haven't had since Jack Giangalanti(KC) fixed me a homemade plate back in 2000, my beautiful date had the Veal Marsala. I must advise some to take advantage of the drink/waiting room downstairs. When you do, sample the Pomodore & Mozzarella cold plate, with a small liqueur glass of Limoncello, that will start your taste bud engines.
(4)Luke I.
Food is below par. The service is okay, but tried to charge me for two glasses of wine (when I just poured one full glass). They are not friendly about people sharing meals and will charge you an additional $5. This is NOT the place for good authentic italian food.
(1)Colin S.
I usually go here for my birthday. A lot of food snobs will probs hate this place for serving oversized portions of hearty midwestern Italian, but its damn good food, not the crap they serve in Italy. Love the olive oil here, I've never come across anything remotely close to it. If you want the best Italian joint in town, this is your place hands down. Biaggis, Le Spezia, etc. all play second fiddle to this omaha landmark.
(5)Mike B.
I had high hopes based on the recommendation, reviews and mostly because a photo of Tommy Lasorda hung at the entrance, former Dodger Skipper. What I found was this restaurant was settled into a groove of mediocrity that seemed to be acceptable. Infused table oil appearing cloudy to be used with the store bought, cold and untoasted bread....why? Next came out roasted garlic served cold to be used with the same bread. Not very appetizing. All I found good at this point was the Balsamic vinegar which was not on the table nor offered by waitress, rather you had to ask for it. As for the entrees, quantity does not make up for quality. Heating up what you take home won't make it taste any better. I have experienced far better at chain style restaurants so needless to say I was disappointed.
(2)Brian H.
walked in for lunch with a low customer count. my family was seated promptly after they placed a plastic tarp under my baby's high chair (yes, funny and intriguing all in the same manner). I ordered the lasagna and it was great. the noodles were not soggy, the meat was proportional, but they could've put more sauce on top.
(4)Sarah K.
I ate here for the first time even after living here more than ten years. Needless to say it didn't disappoint. Went in a Saturday afternoon and it wasn't terribly busy. The service was very good. Our server was very nice and didn't leave us wanting anything. Our meal began with bread, garlic cloves, and chopped tomatoes and basil. I chose the Pasta Con Pomodori Secchi which came with soup or salad. The portions are huge and this meal was exactly what I was craving. I ordered the chocolate cake for dessert but took it home so hopefully it takes care of my need for chocolate today. All in all it was the great meal I had hoped for and I would like to go back soon!
(4)Kim J.
It's funny how diverse the reviews are for this place. I like Lo Sole Mio. I think it's good. Yes, their portions are ridiculous--but you don't have to eat it all. They do have take home containers. It's not someplace we eat often, but really do enjoy it when we do. And obviously, many others in Omaha enjoy it too, as it's always crowded. They have a really large menu and the service is generally good. I've had several different items, including the spaghetti and meatballs, which seem boring, but are delicious!
(4)Jim F.
Very disappointed in general. First, the decor is dated. The service was pretty good including our waitor and the young lady filling water, which I appreciated because I drink a lot. The bread was just something off a grocery store shelf served with oil, garlic cloves and parm cheese. With that being said, it was soft and tasty with the butter I asked for. The ceasar salad cost a little extra in place of a house salad which is uncommon. When it arrived I saw why, it was huge. It didn't need to be that big. I did like the fact that it contained plenty of romaine hearts. Now for the entrees. Both were simply horrible and uneatable. The chicken parm was a frozen cutlet that appearedto be microwaved up to temp. It was mushy and tasteless. The spag that accompanied it was a huge mound, again, doesn't need to be that big. The sauce was something that had been reduced, but with no seasoning or flavor. The best example would be a can of Hunt's tomato paste. Yuk. My partner ordered a combo with chicken parm, lasagna and fett alfredo. Again, the chick parm was terrible. The lasagna was a perfect square, obviously not fresh. It had been microwaved into oblivion. All one texture and taste. I tried his alfredo sauce and could taste it was not fresh. All the portions were huge, but most of it was crap. When we explained to the server the problem, he apologized, excused himself to go to the front and about 15 minutes later, came back with a check for $12 and an explanation that the manager had to step across the street. While we thought paying $6 each for a side salad was not great, the manager/owner not coming to the table to face us was unforgiveable. If you serve this food, you should come out and face the music! By the way, both of the entrees were $19 a piece. I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams paying top dollar for what was served to us. We would much rather gone to Olive Garden or Fazoli's, which beat this place hands down on food quality.
(1)Eric V.
Completely underrated gem. The fresh bread, roasted garlic, tomatoes, and parmesan you get before your meal are reason enough to go to Lo Sole Mio. Huge portions, but it's okay - leftovers were even better reheated the next day.
(4)Roger R.
I never will get it. They keep bringing out all this food that isn't that good and you could never eat all of it, even if it was good. A sickening place. I think the one review that said, "they serve good midwestern Italian and not that crap that they serve in Italy", says it all. Please, Really?
(1)David L.
Solid old style American Italian food. Nothing really jumped out and nothing was bad. The salad, Thunderbird style, was very good. The fried eggplant appetizer was good. Had the special which was a chicken breast with pepperoni cooked with a tomato sauce and melted mozzarella with fettuccine Alfredo. The chicken even with the pepperoni was a bit bland and the alfreddo was weak/bland as well. Everything needed salt, I am not a salt fan - in fact in most dishes I do not even want to taste the salt but in most it needs to be there in some amount to brighten or complete the flavor profile. They said their bread was homemade but it tasted just like Rotella - which is good but not house made good. It was served at room temperature as well. Should be warm. I would not go out of my way to eat here again but if someone I was eating with was a fan and wanted to go I would not avoid it.
(3)Patrick W.
Lo Sole Mio's is my favorite Italian restaurant anywhere. I've been here several times and the food is always consistently great. The interior of the restaurant has maintained its charm even though it has been expanded. The servers are always fantastic as well. I think you'd be pretty hard pressed to find some place better in Omaha. I've only had the lasagna but it's so good that I can't imagine trying anything else. Then again, I'm the type of person that rarely strays from my favorites at a given restaurant. This is the ideal date night or special occasion restaurant. Just be warned that they don't take reservations and the wait can take a bit of time. Be patient because it's worth it!
(5)Joel M.
Food is always good!! Just go there when you haven't had anything to eat in two days. Portion size's are huge, which can be bothersome. I say this cause I'm not a huge leftovers fan. I give it three stars based on portion size alone. Menu is really large as well, so it can be overwhelming if it's your first time. Very friendly staff, affordable and cozy. The bathroom has mouthwash for the garlic lovers, which I get a kick out of every time we go. It is a Omaha gem!!!
(3)Amy M.
I don't get this place but I know that everybody in Omaha seems to love it. When I ask people why they like it so much the response generally is that they give you a TON of food. Great. A ton of mediocre food. I tried Lo Sole Mio about 3 times before I gave up - I would rather have a little bit of a great thing than a whole lotta meh. For what it's worth I did like the tomato basil they give you with bread at the beginning of the meal and they had a portobello appetizer that was decent - everything else left me unimpressed and thinking I waited in line for how long for this? Ugh.
(2)Alexis J.
I think this is one best place for Italian food anywere. We always have a good time. Be careful if you come on a Friday or Satuday night your going to have to wait a while.
(5)Mahmoud E.
Lovely food. Huge portion. Delicious pasta with gambareh. Waiters were very nice too. Italian music playing in background
(5)