Campanello’s Italian Restaurant
414 Central Ave, Cincinnati, OH, 45202
Campanello’s Italian Restaurant Menu
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Pasta
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Danny's Homemade Pizza
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Desserts
Healthy Meal suggestions for Campanello’s Italian Restaurant
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Appetizers
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Entrees
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Pasta
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Danny's Homemade Pizza
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Desserts
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Cincinnati for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
414 Central Ave
Cincinnati, OH, 45202 - Phone (513) 721-9833
- Website https://www.campanellos.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
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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Ralph H.
I've loved this place for years. It's one of those good old fashioned dive-bars with good food. It's family owned, so you're not getting fed corporate meal off a truck. However, this is not a good place to go if you're snooty about your food. Snooty people should go to olive garden instead. I've never left there without being completely overfed. :-)
(4)jennifer P.
I have been wanting to try this place for probably 15 years but always forget about it when I am looking for a place to eat. Last weekend we went and I liked it. The atmosphere is very dive like but fun. Very casual which was what we were into this night. I had the eggplant parm, which was really good. He had the Lasagna which he was not crazy about because it was cheese not meat. That I can not blame on Campanello's though. I prefer meat as well but either way we enjoyed the place. The bill was not too bad for a total of 4 vodka tonics, 2 salads, bread and two meals it was 47.00. That is pretty good.
(4)Judy G.
The hours posted here are incorrect as they do have a lunch service, 11 till 2 I think, then they close and reopen at 5 for dinner. Five of us got different entrees, the portions were generous, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed their food. The service was great and the staff was friendly. Not expensive as one rater suggested but typically priced for this type of food.
(4)John K.
I occasionally visit Cincinnati on business, and multiple trips to Campanello's are always on my agenda. The chicken parmesean, served over eggplant, is a standout, although everything else I've ever tried there has been great. It's not a fancy place, but it's exactly the sort of spot I wish they had in my home town. Cozy and comfortable on a warm night, and the people are as friendly as I've found anywhere. I'm not normally very talkative, but coming in alone, I've had some wonderful chats here, along with lovely dinners.
(5)Ken C.
We were traveling to Cincinnati and found this restaurant on Yelp. It really does have a family feel. Everything from the checkered table cloths to the chef bringing out the entree himself imbues the place of italian friendliness. The lady who filled our water glasses told us she made the tiramasu that we were eating, which was one of the best I've tasted. I ordered a veal parmigiana, and it was delicious. My daughter's spaghetti with meatballs was just so-so. I wouldn't recommend that dish, but I would go back to try the other dishes on the menu.
(4)Brian B.
As an Italian food nut this is the best bang for your buck. Campanellos is always a hit at Italian-fest and they will not disappoint. Whether you are on a date, having a nice meal with friends, or having a business meeting. Campanellos is for you!!!
(4)Ryan M.
Really good food especially the veal marsala, you can really taste the marsala in the sauce. Pretty easy to find parking and w/o reservations had no trouble getting a table.
(4)Sue B.
Loved this place! Food is fabulous! Treated like family! A++++++++
(5)Brad B.
I have been eating here for years and absolutely love it. Their pasta dishes are outstanding. I love the kitschy wood paneling and decor that looks more like someone's family room than a restaurant. If you're looking for coziness be sure to sit in the back room. You will not be dissatisfied with a meal from here.
(5)Ernie A.
Small little place, looks like an old italian family restaurant from back east, but the food was nothing special. Not bad, but not anything to really comment on.
(3)Sheriff D.
What can I say, AMAZING FOOD!! Dessert was great salad was great, entrée.... great! My Wife had the Lasagna, I had the spaghetti and meatballs. Homemade Italian dressing for the salad was awesome. The food was piping hot and fresh, great atmosphere, and service. This is my new favorite restaurant ever. It makes you feel like home. The lasagna is homemade and it was so close to my mom's I couldn't believe it.
(5)Gerry S.
We went based on a Yelp recommendation and this place totally lived up to the reviews. Fun little divey place on the edge of downtown. Family owned, and it shows. Very friendly. Service was good. Food was good, though the meatballs were boring. Very casual dining with generous portions.
(4)Lisa G.
On the initial trek from the downtown hotel circuit, I was a little "concerned" with the area. However, when we walked into the restaurant, an old town quaint atmosphere took over. We ordered the lasagna and spaghetti and meatballs. Both dishes met expectations, but what made the reestaurant was the friendly staff and local presence. We "passed" on desert but were coerced into trying the Tiramisu. Being somewhat of an expert in the Tiramisu area, I can tell you it was, by far, THE BEST I've ever eaten with just the right amount of every key ingredient! We were told each desert is homemade by the owner herself - I can't wait to meet her and try the other dishes! This restaurant is a must-see, where I've heard nothing but rave reviews on the pizza. At the very least, its perfect for a glass of wine and desert! Git ir done!
(4)Nolan L.
Campanellos is a great spot. Not a lot of old school joints like this left. The lunch is really reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. The food is really solid and traditional Italian. I highly recommend the tour of Cincinnati so you can try all the greats. Give this place a chance and you won't be sorry.
(4)J K.
Like other reviews have said, Campanello's can be summed up in one word -- uninspired. Food is haphazardly plated and overpriced, the service is brusque, and the decor feels grungy. One begins to wonder if they're actually putting any effort into their work. For all the positive reviews that describe Campanello's as a quaint home style meal, Scotti's Italian Restaurant does it a hundred times better.
(2)Heather L.
NY little Italy here in the Midwest! OMG I apologize for the lack of food pictures, but it was soooo good there was no time to stop and snap any! We came here after eyeing their restaurant week menu. I'd always wanted to try it and this was a good excuse! It is a small but charming space, due to this, I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time! Our menu started with fresh bread, yum, must.not.fill.up.on.bread. ... But would've been easy to. Save some to soak up their heavenly sauces. We both had a glass of white wine (decent selection and always running wine specials!). Antipasto was up next and it was done right. Dressing was perfect. Course 2 I chose manicotti and he had ravioli. Now manicotti is one of my all time fave foods and I am shocked to say this rivals that from the best. He said his ravioli was delicious. Course 3 I choose the salmon and he had veal Marsala. My salmon was amazing. It was perfectly cooked and the sauce made me want to lick the plate (luckily I had that bread!). I don't like veal, but he said it was perfect. Finally the dessert, what I had really been waiting for, the cannoli. WINNER. Beats my fave NY bakery hands down. Who woulda thought?! Thank you, can't wait to come back and try everything off the regular menu!!!
(5)Shirley A.
Place/Decor- 3/5 Food- 3/5 Wine/Wine Value: 4 Value- 4/5 Service- 4/5 Glance from the street and you see a hole in the wall Italian place and that's exactly what you get when you get in. Not hating on it ; kinda has a cool mobster "little Italy" in the city feel... Ordered chicken marsala entree. Comes w/ bread (good) and a side salad. Their house Italian dressing was great! The chkn marsala had an okay taste but it didnt look anything like a marsala IMO. It also came w/ a side of Spaghetti; that was delish! To recap my favs: the VINO & the Spaghetti
(3)Daniel D.
Grabbed the carry-out pasta special for the marathon. Huge portions. Salad and bread were pretty basic, but the meatballs and sauce for the pasta were great. Nice, simple neighborhood Italian restaurant.
(4)Michele H.
Like a step back in time. Tiny, with lots of charm and character. the best Italian food I have eaten in years. If you are looking for fancy, it is not for you. Mick our server was delightful.
(5)Kimberly K.
Cute place, charming in an old world kind of style. Very friendly also. I like the lasagna! The bread is awesome also. Large portions, I always wind up taking half of it home for dinner. Never a long wait either! I've only been here for lunch, not sure how dinner goes. It's a fun place to take someone from out of town. Unusual and charming. Also not too loud so you can talk. There is another room in the back you might not see at first glance.
(4)Chris S.
Super, super busy because it's so small. Spaghetti & Meatballs were pretty good. They rushed the Chicken Marsala for us. Ended up pretty mediocre, either due to the rush or possibly that's normal. Fine overall but not our favorite.
(3)Elizabeth R.
This is a great little hole in the wall type Italian restaurant. It is tiny - only 6 or 7 tables that I saw in the front dining area. There may have been more in the back, but we did not venture there. The decor is a little dated, but for me this just adds to the character of the place. We went here during restaurant week, where two people could dine on 3 courses for $35. We were each able to choose from soup of the day or antipasto salad; cannelloni, lasagna, or fettuccine alfredo; and beef, chicken Marsala, or baked fish. I really liked the antipasto salad. The bread was also good - very soft. For the second course, I got the fettuccine alfredo (I'm a sucker for it), and my friend got the cannelloni. The fettuccine was delicious, but i preferred the cannelloni for this round - you could tell the pasta was freshly made, and the sauce tasted very fresh as well. For the third course, I got the fish, and my friend got the chicken Marsala. The fish came in a butter-wine-garlic sauce with breadcrumbs and lemons - I can't say enough good things about it! I would definitely get it again. The chicken Marsala was also good - the sauce was very nice on it. Even though it wasn't part of the deal, we went ahead and got dessert because why not, right? I got the spumoni ice cream, because how often can you get that, and she got the canolli. Both were quite tasty. We ended up with all that food for $56 total, and I'll have leftovers for probably about 1 1/2 meals. Obviously with it being special pricing, we got a deal, but the prices were quite reasonable on the regular menu as well. Service was good. There was a minor snafu with our food coming out in the wrong order, but servers and kitchen staff were all apologetic about it, and honestly I really didn't care that the fish came out before the pasta - maybe I'm supposed to, but I just didn't :). I'd totally come back here again!
(4)Andrea M.
Without a doubt this was the best dining experience of my life so far. It's a charming little hole in the wall place with only 6 tables that I could see, and a bar. The bread was very soft and tasted very good, and the house salad dressing is the best I've ever had. For the main course I ordered penne and and meatballs, and it was the tastiest, highest quality food I've ever had. If you're looking for some fancy dining this is not for you, but if you're looking for GREAT food I give this place my highest recommendation!
(5)Justin L.
If I could give this less than a star (like a half) I would...the only good thing here was the wine. Our friends made reservations at this "famous" Italian restaurant in downtown Cincinatti. When I walked in, the interior was quite dated, but I figured, being from New York, so are some of the great Italian places in Little Italy. I ordered the Shrimp Fettucini Alfredo---terrible. The sauce was incredibly watery, the pasta was mushy, and it was bland. My wife had linguini with Clams, and that was pretty decent, however the sauce was overly salty...this was not the worst dish. Our friends had Chicken Parmigiana. Where do I begin...first off, the chicken was not pounded out into nice thin cutlets, causing the chicken to be drier than sand paper. When the chef/cook served our dinner he called the pasta "skebbies" (there were no children present at the table). Let's talk about their "marinara" sauce. It was FAR from it. The sauce was essentially tomato paste with a bit of water added to it. It was bitter, bland, and is something I would not even serve to my dog. One of our friends dining with us is Italian, and he was absolutely beside himself. I will never return to this restaurant, nor will I, nor any friends of mine recommend this place to ANYONE who is visiting the Cincinnati area.
(1)Todd And Annie S.
Great Italian food and service with a smile. Everything from the antipasta salad to the lasagna is fabulous. Most meals served with a salad and complimentary bread to go along with your meal. Some of the finest food I have tasted period. Totally traditional Italian. The shrimp scampi is also a great dish. Love this place and HIGHLY recommend it!
(5)Christie B.
We came the night before a run for pasta. Neither of us were impressed with food or service. We won't return.
(2)Mike C.
A total hole in the wall but great atmosphere! Owners comes in at 4:00 am to start the sauce which is made from scratch! Lasagna is the best dish and homemade bread. The a place to step back in time and have some good food.
(4)Jim B.
Dated decor, and lots of clutter on the bar. Service was good until they got busy. Salad tasted a bit stale. Pasta dishes were decent, but nothing great. They need Gordon Ramsey for a couple of days, and this place could soar. It has character.
(2)Lisa R.
The service was very slow, the restaurant was hot and crowded. The bar had stuff all over it. I had the fettucini with clam sauce. It was bland, just ok. The house salad dressing was awesome. The server was very nice and friendly. The wine was good. Gratuity was automatically included, and they only allow one check per table. I wasn't impressed. Could have gone to Sotto and had an awesome meal for the amount of money we spent.
(3)Brittany S.
Dear Cincinnatians, You know the Italian meal you are about to eat is not going to be authentic when the following scenario takes place: Me to server (following the delivery of bread): Could we have some olive oil for our bread? (insert-super-duper-friendly-smile-because-I'm-trying-to-make-sure-this-request-doesn't-come-off-snobby) Server (after pause): hmm...I'm not sure if we have any...I'll have to check. WHAT ITALIAN RESTAURANT DOESN'T HAVE ITALY'S NO.1 INGREDIENT?! Server returns with bowl of "olive oil" and briskly walks off. However, my keen olive-oil-worshiping-eye quickly catches sight of how this oil moves thickly from side to side in the bowl. Oh yes, my friend, he brought me a big bowl of artery-clogging vegetable oil - of which I pretended not to notice and fake sopped up with the communion-tasting bread. This far into the review, I'm sure you're thinking I'm an uber snob - of which I'll admit - maybe I am when it comes to food from the motherland. But come on, olive oil is Day One! At this point my friend and I decided the beef vegetable soup misnomered as "minestrone" would be our final course at Campanello's. Our neighbor's Chef Boyardee spaghetti led us to cut our losses and call it a night.
(2)Jeremy K.
I really enjoyed Campanello's. The staff was very friendly and chatty (maybe a tad too chatty ;) ) The server/owner/cook suggested a good wine and the special. The house salads came with in-house made dressing that was really good! Italian dressing that was perfect, not too sweet nor too vinegary. The special was a sampler that including the lasagna, manicoti, and meat ravioli. The food was good, I was happy, but it did feel as though it was missing something. Id give it a 3.5 or 4 out of 5. My girlfriend and I decided to split the tiramisu, and I must say, it was PERFECT! Maybe the best tiramisu Ive ever had. Light, fluffy, balanced and just amazing. Great atmosphere, good food. I enjoyed my dinner here. A bit pricey for what we got, but I was still happy.
(4)Lucas C.
Lunch: $8 for a huge plate of creamy carbonara with delicious, salty meats, accompanied with enough fresh baked bread to feed a small village, a small bed of lettuce covered in italian dressing. A big burly, slow moving bartender made the experience as authentic as it gets. Met the owner, Bruce, a 3rd generation operator of the 103 year old grocery store turned italian restaurant (in 1969). Tip: This is a small, family owned, hole in the wall, hasn't been updated in over 40 years, Italian restaurant. That should be your expectation. If it is, you'll love this place.
(4)Bill B.
I wanted to give this three and a half stars but that is not an option. I had lunch there with my sister for my first visit to Campanello's which is just around the corner from my new office. One major positive is the service. Michael, who was behind the bar and took our order, was very friendly and the food came quickly. We got salad with bread which was pretty tasty, but as one reviewer noted, there was no olive oil in which to dip the bread. We both had the mostaccioli, and thought the sauce was pretty tasty, and I enjoyed the meatballs. The decor is dated, with wood paneling, which took me back to my parents basement in the 70s, which for me is a good memory. The restaurant interior could use updating, but that would be done at the risk of some of its kitschy charm. Not sure I would go out of my way to eat there, but for people looking for a local
(3)Scott M.
Three blocks from the beach and one step closer to decent Italian food in Cincinnati. Upon my longstanding quest to find palatable Italian in this decidedly German town, I stopped at Campanello's for lunch this past Friday. Having originated in the mafioso hotbed of Youngstown, Ohio (don't believe me? Do some research), I found this place is a lot closer to the Italian food I grew up with. First off, bread comes at the beginning of every meal. It is warm, white, and soft, or as Subway calls it, Italian. No, there is no oil for dipping-- this isn't Carrabba's, but more on that later. Next, you get salad. It's lettuce on a plate. It's simple. It come with oil and vinegar, aka Italian dressing. You could get some other kind, but then why didn't you go to a Ranch restaurant? Lastly, you get your pasta. It has marinara on it. That is Italian food. Mangia. There are clearly things about this place that some folks won't find attractive, but to me, they are the same things that I believe speak to the character of Campanello's: It is quaint. Low ceilings. Tight quarters. The whole shebang. It reminds me of the parties we used to have in Uncle Joe's basement when I was a kid (you know, how every Italian has a kitchen in his basement, for parties). It is decidedly not high-fashion. Think: wood paneled walls and checkered tablecloths. There's a bunch of loose paper and stuff on one end of the bar top (Just like in Uncle Joe's basement). "We serve Coke products" means "We have cans of Coke (free refills, though)". Service. It's like one guy that runs the whole place, he'll get to you when he gets to you and if not, you'll have to get to him first. This is not the Olive Garden or Carrabba's or any other B.S. chain wannabe Italian restaurant (I tip my cap to Maggianno's, they ain't too bad). This is what 75% of Rome and South working-class Italians eat on any given day. If you wanna fill up on delicious bread sticks go back to Olive Garden with your Bellini and your 19-cheese Ravioli (it seriously is too much cheese). Presentation. Though the Italian Sausage was decent with a slight kick, there's probably a serving option that is superior to cubed and dropped onto the top of my marinara. Marinara. Though it should pretty much always be marinara, this one was a hair flat in my opinion. Or the flavor was canceled by the sausage or the noodles, I haven't quite broken it down yet. Not quite the coveted Sicilian salsa preferita I had hoped for, but at the same time, it wasn't an offensive sauce (see my future review on Scotti's). All-in-all, if I could combine everything about this place and A Tavola's marinara I think we'd have a winner. I put this place somewhere on par with Martino's, which is only decent Italian because the owners are from Pittsburgh. Unfortunately, the owners are from Pittsburgh, but I'll save that rant for another review.
(4)Francisco B.
Food was ok. I had the spaghetti carbonara and my wife had Chicken Alfredo. Neither was amazing.
(2)Andrew N.
Our party of 6 had a good array of food, but no one was really satisfied. The italian sausage? We were warned it would be spicy but boiled, bland and rubbery cubes are probably more accurate descriptions. A nice sautee would've done it better justice. Maybe. The "Campanello Specialty" of manicotti and lasagna was also uninspiring. Nothing but thin sheets of pasta layered with fairly generic tomato sauce and short on actual fillings. It was all very one note. The only person in our party who seemed content was my friend who had the fettucine with clam sauce. Good flavor, not too overpowering or too salty is how he put it. I didn't try any so can't comment much more. Other detractors? Service was a bit slow and the atmosphere is a bit of a dive- I could care less if the food was good- but failing that I can't help but pick up on these things. At any rate, I will give it to the space that the staff were nice enough and that their tiramisu is good; light on weight but strong on flavor, but that's about it. The tiramisu is the one redeeming factor, but this is hardly enough to bring me back. Looking for Italian in this city? Head to Bella Luna is my advice. It's a family run business but with a far more impressive menu (and execution, to match), a better atmosphere and all for more or less the same price.
(2)Ben B.
"Three blocks from the beach" but more importantly, 1 block from my office. Great Italian food, in a great location. The whole ambiance is that of a friend's basement, and not that of a restaurant. The staff are wonderful, and make you feel as though you are family. The food portions are very adequate, and at a decent price. Around 12 Noon, it's very busy, and very packed. Any other time of day and you should be good! I love taking people from out of town here, even most in-towners (unless they are downtowners) don't know of it.
(4)Michelle O.
My friend and I came here looking for an authentic home style Italian meal and we found it. Campanellos is 100% Italian family style cooking . When we arrived we were greeted by the a friendly waitress (who has been previously described as slutty but i found them both to be sweet girls) and were seated immediately at an open table in front of the bar. We ordered the ravioli and baked manicotti ... Yum, Overall Campenello's is a quaint Lil Joint offering authenticate Italian family cooking and a good knowledgeable (and pretty funny too) staff.
(3)Alex L.
Meh. That's all I can say about this place. Seeing all the great reviews I expected a whole lot more than what I got. First of all, we called in advance and were told we'd get a table with minimal wait. About an hour later, we finally got our table after it was obvious the server made not effort to reserve a table for us. So that was a minus already. The service was atrocious though. The server had absolutely no eagerness to serve us at all. She seemed to be in disgust at any questions we asked about the food and she was very brusque in her attitude. She recommended the Campanello Special and not knowing anything else due to her lack of information, I ordered that. What came out was bland and nothing special. It's something I could have made better if I just went to a store and bought some pasta and sauce. Either way, there was nothing special about the meal It's only saving grace was that the tiramisu we got was quite delicious but if you're here for an Italian restaurant and the only thing good was the dessert you're in trouble.
(2)Sanjeet G.
I am surprised that so many people give this place great reviews.... Pros: 1) Honestly the only pro I can think of was the tiramisu, it is home made and absolutely delicious Cons: 1) We went with a group of friends and the experience started off with them losing our reservations leaving us with a 45 minute wait for our table 2) At no point did anyone apologize for this or speak to us while we waited awkwardly near the entrance 3) The food was honestly not great, the italian sausage was rubbery and bland, not spicy like indicated, the pasta seemed like it was Kroger pasta that had been boiled with some generic tomato sauce added to it Not a great restaurant, definitely not a representation of the italian food in the city, would much rather go to Betta's for a family run italian restaurant experience.
(2)Andrew F.
I am honestly surprised by the number of high ratings. Pros: Location (if you are in that part of downtown?) Cons: Pricey for quality, frozen ravioli, service that plops food on table and leaves
(2)Mindy C.
Pricy for average food and small portions. Seating is crammed and building is in dire need of an update. Staff seems friendly and hospitable enough.
(2)Emily H.
I want to give Campanello's 4 stars, but I just can't. I've heard lots of great things from friends about the good food here and there are lots of great reviews here, as well. However, the night I went I just wasn't that impressed. Perhaps it was because they were too busy but the service was not good. There was a line when we got there, which isn't surprising for a Saturday night. But no one could tell us how long it would be, just "a few minutes." A few minutes turned into 30 and then we had to wait a very long time for our food, as well. I do think the food was very good; nothing fancy (I wasn't expecting fancy), but definitely enjoyable. There was also a bit of a stink about us using a coupon. The coupon said "valid any time" but there was a sign in the restaurant that said you can't use coupons on Saturday. The waitress let us use it but then her boss was a little rude about it when we tried to check out and gave us a bit of a rude look. That rudeness, combined with the slow service makes it a little hard for the good food to compensate.
(3)Monica W.
Great food, organized chaos and slutty waitresses! My boyfriend and I just dinned here this evening. I was really looking forward to enjoying a meal from this authentic family owned business and enjoyed I did! Okay so let me get the negative out of the way; when we were dinning this evening the waitresses we decided were dressed a little too slutty for working at a family owned authentic Italian restaurant. They had on super short shorts, one of them wore a t-shirt that was slit up the sides and tied back together, the other waitress had a chest piece tattoo that was showing. I may sound critical but come on clean it up a little there are families dinning in here not mass amounts of men trying to pick up chicks! Another thing I noticed was that the waitresses were not very attentive to their customers and I noticed that they were constantly bitching and stressing out about a party of 20 people that they had to service... do your job and stop bitching!!! The atmosphere here was very welcoming. The restaurant felt very lived in or dinned in should I say which gives it nice character. Checkered table clothes and tea lit candles on every table gave a nice cozy feel. There was a guy working there that brought our meals out to us and he was very friendly and helpful to us... thank heavens!! I ordered a standard dish of spaghetti and meatballs and my boyfriend ordered the eggplant Parmesan both were very good. The eggplant was done perfectly and the spaghetti and meatballs was very much so above average! The salad was very standard but very good and the bread was just okay. I would have enjoyed warm bread with olive oil and spices more than cold Italian bread and butter. Overall I really enjoyed my dinner and the atmosphere was very cozy.
(4)Jeremy B.
I am very confused by the reviews of this place. It's been a couple of years since I have gone, but I have not forgotten how disappointing it was. We sat down on an empty night and got served by a very peculiar cat-lady type who was friendly, but as I said, peculiar. We ordered a side of garlic bread and when we got it we were very pleased and anticipating the entrees. Those were a whole different story. My friends and I were all underwhelmed by the food. I know one got Chicken Alfredo and he did not enjoy it - said the sauce tasted funny. I got the beef bracciole ( a rolled pasta of sorts) and despite my desire to give some credit, I just did not enjoy the food. I do realize this could have been an off night, it was very slow, so do not take my review as the only one. Some of the other ones on here give a totally different impressions and it seems I may have been the unlucky one. But again, this was MY experience so I'm choosing to be honest: I did not enjoy my time at Campanello's.
(2)Heidi C.
Such a great find. Our Hotel suggested this restaurant and we were glad we came. Staff was friendly and the food tastes great. A good memory!
(5)Dan M.
I hit this place up for lunch with a coworker several months ago. The menu looked reasonable, and the prices were only a little high, but it was convenient. Anyways, the service was very slow here - which the waiter warned us would happen. However, the true issue is the food. It lacks inspiration, quality ingredients, and execution. I can honestly say I am completely dumbfounded as to how anyone could give this place five stars. There are many better Italian options very near by. Bottom Line: I won't waste my time here - there are many better places nearby.
(2)Sean B.
The awning on the front of Campanello's proclaims that the restaurant is "3 blocks from the beach", which may be true if you consider the northern shore of the Ohio River a beach, but Campanello's IS right around the corner from the Duke Energy Center and a few blocks from Paul Brown Stadium. The restaurant, which has been there since the 1960s, is one of those tiny checkered table cloth no-nonsense joints. Serving traditional Italian favorites like spaghetti and meatballs, chicken cacciatore, and manicotti, Campanello's is probably not the place to go for a romantic dinner. But if you're looking for solid Italian food at a reasonable price, it's worth a visit. Especially good are the homemade spicy italian sausage and the spaghetti carbonara.
(3)Lee S.
A very small, but absolutely amazing Italian restaurant. Excellent lasagna, ravioli. If you have a restricted diet, their salads leave a bit to be desired, but everything else is amazing!
(4)Eleanor L.
Food was bland and a little overpriced ($13-17 entrees that aren't that great). It's a cozy place and seems to have a regular following, but we were looking for something with a little more privacy that night...
(2)Juliane S.
Many people don't like Campanello's but I love the place the sign proclaiming "3 Blocks from the Beach" is probably the best thing about the place. Campanello's has been in business since 1960 and stayed DT when many restaurents either relocated or closed up shop. They are a tiny, checkered tablecloth type of place, their air conditioning conks out every once in a while and their restrooms sorely need updating. But for me that just adds to the atmosphere. Their desserts are made at home and then brought in - the rum cake is to die for....I love their lasagna - if you need a home style dinner while the Reds are on then this is your place.
(4)Dave B.
This is a 5+ restaurant. Family owned since 1906 best lasana I've ever had. If I lived in Cincinatti I would be eating here every week.
(5)Kasey M.
We went around 7 p.m. in a group of four. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. It only took approximately 20 minutes to get all of our food after we ordered. What we had: -Eggplant Parmesan (This was huge - four large slices of eggplant) -Traditional Alfredo dish -Spaghetti -Mostaccoli with Meatballs (This was mine, it was fantastic at dinner and reheated at lunch today) -Manicotti (Also huge) -Bread Cost: -Total bill was about $75 for four people We all loved the sauce, the atmosphere and the staff. We will definitely be back.
(4)