This was the best during experience I've had. The manager was awesome and the staff very friendly. The food was amazing.
(5)
Andrea K.
First of all, let me start this review by saying, this is a gluten free review only. I have eaten at Bravo for many years before being diagnosed with Celiac and they have always been WONDERFUL and DELICIOUS! I would highly, highly recommend them for anyone without a gluten allergy. I would give it 4 stars. With that being said, this is a gluten free review and I was extremely disappointed by the pasta. My daughter and I both ordered the Pasta Verduta. It was inedible! The flavor was horrible and the pasta was like mush. The waiter was extremely nice and helpful and sent it back and brought out the Pasta Pomodoro with Chicken. The flavor was much better in this dish but the pasta was again very mushy. I would think that if Bravo, being an Italian place, would roll out a gluten free menu, that the pasta would be much better than this. Extremely disappointed and unfortunately that was our last visit there.
(1)
Laura B.
First time here. Food good. Service? What service. We asked 4 different waiters for refills, bread, the check, you name it. Where was our waitress?? She said she was washing dishes.. What?? When another waiter belted out a loud, long yawn at our table...well. Bad day?
(3)
Suzanne B.
I wish that dining at this restaurant left me wanting to applaud and award a "Bravissimo!", but -- alas -- I cannot. The setting is very nice: high ceilings and light colors make the place feel airy, but not cavernous. White table cloths (covered with white butcher-type paper) add just enough formality. The bar area occupies a large corner just near the entry, and always looks inviting enough to enjoy an appetizer, or even a meal while seated close to the bartender. For large groups, there is an adjacent party room with a long table that can be reserved. And there is a nice hum in the air from the din of other diners and an occasional sizzle from the open kitchen. So far, Bravo has all of the setup for a great meal. Continue to the menu, where you will find just enough variety of Italian-style cuisine to keep any diner happy. On my most recent visit for an early dinner, everyone ordered something different, and everyone's entrees sounded great as we read through the menu. The seasoned dipping bread and flavored olive oil (sundried tomato?) is always a favorite part of a meal at Bravo. We had to wait a few minutes on our bread, as the server told us that a batch was coming out of the oven. Once we got it, it was warm, soft, and great for hungry diners. Somehow, we managed to have the self-control not to order another round. It was about this time that the meal started to lose some stars. The server was attentive to keeping our glass full, but in one case, my cup ranneth over as she refilled my water. Not just a little bit, either, as there was a full pool of water surrounding my glass after she poured. I had to grab the paper napkins from below the bread basket to mop it up, and she never seemed to realize what the sopping wad of napkins next to my glass had just been used for. Our salads arrived before the meal, and my house salad looked -- and tasted -- very "meh". Some of the lettuce looked a little limp and even oxygenated (ok, I'll just say it: slightly brown on some edges). I picked out the worst-looking leaves and tried to enjoy it regardless, but it really seemed to lack flavor. The black olives tasted like a canned variety that had been sitting all day and had dried out. Needless to say, I was disappointed. My entree was from the "lighter fare" menu. Of all things, I ordered a 5 oz steak at an Italian restaurant, mainly because the accompaniment (mix of spinach, sweet potatoes, and red peppers, with a side of asparagus) sounded good. Sadly, the accompaniment was the best part of that dish. The steak was much too dry (ordered medium, cooked more to medium-well, if not well-done), and for close to $20, all I can say was that this dish was a complete rip-off. Things improved at dessert, where we ordered the trio of mini desserts and shared a few bites each of creme brulee, cheesecake, and chocolate mousse. The creme brulee was my favorite, and I could recommend getting a single mini serving of it to anyone who eats here. Overall, for the price, Bravo was definitely not worth it. There are other Italian restaurants of the same price (or less) that I would rather visit. However, a few improvements to service and freshness of the food and it could be a winner.
Hands-down..best authentic italian food I've had in recent times.I live in NYC and have been to a fair share of italian places. This place certainly made it to the top of my list. Reasonably priced, great service, creative decor, and great food! I was on a work trip with my team and we happened to stumble upon bravo. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food and seemed very content at the end of the dining experience. I had the Pasta Pomodoro With Chicken - I am quite the picky eater out of all the picky eaters out there and I literally cleaned out my plate. It was that good. I am looking forward to trying their pizzas and salads in the near future.
(5)
Joe D.
i keep wavering between 3 and 4 stars for Bravo. Tonight they were booked solid until 9:30. All those lovers where sharing pasta and LOVE!!. So I opted for take-out. Chicken Milanese consisting of a large breaded and fried chicken breast was served with pasta covered in pomodora sauce and was quite tasty but could have used a bit more sauce; Eggplant parm was also tasty with a nice crust and sufficient sauce on the pasta; spaghetti and meatballs consistently good and the chicken scallopini was exceptional in its lemon butter sauce with feta. Overall the food was delicious. Carnegie cheesecake made the meal spectacular...the chocolate cake was also good. For a chain restaurant...they do a great job.
(4)
Tricia F.
We were in town for a family wedding and the rehearsal dinner was held at Bravos. Our wait staff was great! We were seated in a private room pretty quickly after arriving. Being a chain restaurant, the service is usually the same ~ which isn't a bad thing. The dishes however, are different. I ordered the Pasta Pomodoro. The sauce was incredibly sweet ~ I know this sauce usually is sweet, but tonight it was sweeter than normal. The waitress was so great and had them make me another that wasn't so sweet. You can not go wrong by ordering the Insalata Della Casa salad! Reasonably priced Italian cuisine with a great atmosphere ~ made the evening enjoyable.
(4)
Steve F.
The service was excellent. The food however was ordinary. I had the tilapia with shrimp and scallops. The fish was dry and no rice! The veggies were very good however. The "Bravo ensalda" was iceberg lettuce and nothing special. My wife and did indulge in a special bread pudding for desert and it was very good. All in all a nice evening but I would prefer something different next time.
(3)
Trevor W.
Good Happy Hour and the Lobster Ravioli is always tasty. And who does not like free bread. The flat bread during happy hour is a tasty deal.
(4)
Elizabeth D.
The portobello bruschetta was a nice twist on a classic. My fiance was skeptical about trying something new, but he devoured it! \ His pasta woozie (sp?) had a very watered down alfredo sauce. He's definitely had better. My penne mediterranean was decent. It just didn't wow me. It definitely tasted like something I could throw together easily at home- like a Sandra Lee semi-homemade kinda meal. The chocolate lava dessert was warm, ooey, and gooey delicious. So I guess the meal began with a bang and ended on a high note. The journey in the middle? Not so thrilling.
(3)
Kevin K.
I wish I could give a higher review to Bravo! as the decor, atmosphere, and service were all top notch. The low ranking comes entirely from a very lackluster meal that cost way more than what a meal of that quality should. This is probably a place I would skip if I find myself in Louisville again.
(2)
Brett W.
To be frank, I don't often seek out chain restaurants in Louisville, mainly due to the ridiculous amount of get locally owned and operated joints. But, my wife and I ended up in the mall area on a Friday night and as the time ticked away, our appetites grew, and it was time to go to the nearest restaurant with an open table. I had dined at a BRAVO! once before in Pennsylvania. As is to be expected, the experience is rather consistent across states. And that is definitely not a bad thing. The service at this location, at least our particular waiter, was right on par. Our waiter was very friendly and responsive and we were actually in and out of this place in a rather short time. I get the feeling that anything you ordered at BRAVO! would be pretty tasty, if safe. I had the Frutti Di Mare and my wife had Shrimp Fra Diavolo Campanelle. Both dishes definitely hit the spot considering our hunger, but really nothing super special. At $16 - $17 a pop, I feel like these dishes are a tad pricey, but I guess all pasta dishes are, considering the huge markup restaurants are able to put on these dishes. We also both enjoyed a glass of wine and my wife liked hers so much that she bought a full bottle for just $1 more than the glass price at Liquor Barn the next day. In summary, BRAVO! is what I thought it would be. Definitely a safe, reliable choice if you are in the area looking for some Italian. Take the grandparents, the picky kids, or anyone else that isn't feeling too adventurous and leave satisfied, if slightly yearning for something just a little more special.
(3)
Matt R.
Best italian in the area for the price. You have to try the house salad!!
(5)
Tracy W.
I'm from Kansas City, Missouri but was on family vacation with some of my folks from Louisville (Prospect, KY) and we were their for dinner on June 18th. I had the Pasta Bravo which consist of Rigatoni, chicken and mushrooms in a rich red sauce. I asked for Shrimp in addition to the chicken. They forgot to add the shrimp. I wasn't going to say anything but my cousin had a talk with the staff. They said, not to worry and brought me a 2nd dish which consisted of chicken and shrimp and they packed the original one for me to take with me. The dinner was delicious and they spiced it up for me because I like my food hot and spicy. David was the Chef and he came out to see how everyone was doing and Brad was the server. What a classy operation and when I'm in Louisville, I plan on going back. My cousin use them for their catering needs for the Holidays. I didn't realize we had Bravo's in the Kansas City area. I bet they are good but i wonder if they can measure up to these folks. You guys are wonderful. Brad you did a wonderful job.
(5)
A. M.
I have eaten at Bravo! a few times, and there were times we got right in and times we had to wait a long time due to lack of servers. Our most recent visit was a fiasco from beginning to end. The bread was good, thank goodness, and the only saving grace. I ordered the half ravioli and house salad. I got lasagna and some other salad (which I ate, even though it wasn't what I wanted.) My mother ordered a chicken chopped salad and got the salmon salad. When we told our waiter she got us the correct dishes, and we did get a backhanded apology from the manager. However, my ravioli was cold and the nuts on moms salad made her whole meal inedible and completely unenjoyable. Even the waiter thought the nuts were way too spicy. (We also never got a follow up with the manager - not that we would have told him that anything else was wrong.... once is enough. But it would have given us a better impression if we'd thought he was concerned or even paying attention.) To end the meal on a high note, we decided to try their specially made New York cheesecake. Oh my! What a disappointment! It had obviously been around way too long. From the tip to about 1.5inches from the end it was good, but the closer we got to the end the harder and drier it was. Not only that it was small for the price. Considering the quality of the cheese cake, that might have been a blessing. In the end we paid about $50 for lunch and we probably won't be going back any time soon. To sum up - not recommended! There are plenty of other Italian chain restaurants in the area that do a perfectly adequate job.
(1)
Simone P.
Lunch with my family was wonderful! But please save room for dessert! Or order it for an appetizer!
(4)
Linda M.
On vacation and craving something that wasn't burger related. Nice discovery. We shared a delicious chopped salad, chicken & spinach flatbread pizza and chicken pesto pasta. All so good we had no room for dessert. Attentive waiter who wasn't intrusive. All in all, a good experience.
(4)
Abbey V.
The food is good. However, the service from the hosting staff leaves something to be desired. My husband and I once waited for 2 hours, after being told only 30 mins, then when we asked again, it was 10, and so on...I'm sure it's less busy for lunch - which may be worth a try.
(2)
Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says.... always a pleasure to come here knowing they're open late evening when i'm usually craving for a rich meal Mrs says.... dinner at 10pm? this place makes it possible. we love to come here after working long hours to satisfy our growling stomach. soup or salad to start but always with calamari. never a dull moment. as for the main course, we order anything from pizza, penne pasta or pesto to steak and scallops. portions are ok and can be shared with others but with an appetite one can easily clean up a plate but i always end up taking some left over home because either the soup or salad plus calamari's enough to fulfill my appetite.
Takes Reservations : Yes 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 : Intimate Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
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.
Leslie M.
This was the best during experience I've had. The manager was awesome and the staff very friendly. The food was amazing.
(5)Andrea K.
First of all, let me start this review by saying, this is a gluten free review only. I have eaten at Bravo for many years before being diagnosed with Celiac and they have always been WONDERFUL and DELICIOUS! I would highly, highly recommend them for anyone without a gluten allergy. I would give it 4 stars. With that being said, this is a gluten free review and I was extremely disappointed by the pasta. My daughter and I both ordered the Pasta Verduta. It was inedible! The flavor was horrible and the pasta was like mush. The waiter was extremely nice and helpful and sent it back and brought out the Pasta Pomodoro with Chicken. The flavor was much better in this dish but the pasta was again very mushy. I would think that if Bravo, being an Italian place, would roll out a gluten free menu, that the pasta would be much better than this. Extremely disappointed and unfortunately that was our last visit there.
(1)Laura B.
First time here. Food good. Service? What service. We asked 4 different waiters for refills, bread, the check, you name it. Where was our waitress?? She said she was washing dishes.. What?? When another waiter belted out a loud, long yawn at our table...well. Bad day?
(3)Suzanne B.
I wish that dining at this restaurant left me wanting to applaud and award a "Bravissimo!", but -- alas -- I cannot. The setting is very nice: high ceilings and light colors make the place feel airy, but not cavernous. White table cloths (covered with white butcher-type paper) add just enough formality. The bar area occupies a large corner just near the entry, and always looks inviting enough to enjoy an appetizer, or even a meal while seated close to the bartender. For large groups, there is an adjacent party room with a long table that can be reserved. And there is a nice hum in the air from the din of other diners and an occasional sizzle from the open kitchen. So far, Bravo has all of the setup for a great meal. Continue to the menu, where you will find just enough variety of Italian-style cuisine to keep any diner happy. On my most recent visit for an early dinner, everyone ordered something different, and everyone's entrees sounded great as we read through the menu. The seasoned dipping bread and flavored olive oil (sundried tomato?) is always a favorite part of a meal at Bravo. We had to wait a few minutes on our bread, as the server told us that a batch was coming out of the oven. Once we got it, it was warm, soft, and great for hungry diners. Somehow, we managed to have the self-control not to order another round. It was about this time that the meal started to lose some stars. The server was attentive to keeping our glass full, but in one case, my cup ranneth over as she refilled my water. Not just a little bit, either, as there was a full pool of water surrounding my glass after she poured. I had to grab the paper napkins from below the bread basket to mop it up, and she never seemed to realize what the sopping wad of napkins next to my glass had just been used for. Our salads arrived before the meal, and my house salad looked -- and tasted -- very "meh". Some of the lettuce looked a little limp and even oxygenated (ok, I'll just say it: slightly brown on some edges). I picked out the worst-looking leaves and tried to enjoy it regardless, but it really seemed to lack flavor. The black olives tasted like a canned variety that had been sitting all day and had dried out. Needless to say, I was disappointed. My entree was from the "lighter fare" menu. Of all things, I ordered a 5 oz steak at an Italian restaurant, mainly because the accompaniment (mix of spinach, sweet potatoes, and red peppers, with a side of asparagus) sounded good. Sadly, the accompaniment was the best part of that dish. The steak was much too dry (ordered medium, cooked more to medium-well, if not well-done), and for close to $20, all I can say was that this dish was a complete rip-off. Things improved at dessert, where we ordered the trio of mini desserts and shared a few bites each of creme brulee, cheesecake, and chocolate mousse. The creme brulee was my favorite, and I could recommend getting a single mini serving of it to anyone who eats here. Overall, for the price, Bravo was definitely not worth it. There are other Italian restaurants of the same price (or less) that I would rather visit. However, a few improvements to service and freshness of the food and it could be a winner.
(3)Sara K.
Absolutely amazing every single time. Great flatbread pizzas, spaghetti, ravioli, lasagna, and seafood. The lobster bisque is a must, the crispy potatoes are sinfully good, and the warm bread & olive oil are super-tasty. THE place to go for National Lasagna Day, and I definitely advise getting on their mailing list for coupons and specials. They often email with 20% off your entire online order, which is great! So much better than passé Olive Garden food.
(5)Preethi T.
Hands-down..best authentic italian food I've had in recent times.I live in NYC and have been to a fair share of italian places. This place certainly made it to the top of my list. Reasonably priced, great service, creative decor, and great food! I was on a work trip with my team and we happened to stumble upon bravo. Everyone at the table enjoyed their food and seemed very content at the end of the dining experience. I had the Pasta Pomodoro With Chicken - I am quite the picky eater out of all the picky eaters out there and I literally cleaned out my plate. It was that good. I am looking forward to trying their pizzas and salads in the near future.
(5)Joe D.
i keep wavering between 3 and 4 stars for Bravo. Tonight they were booked solid until 9:30. All those lovers where sharing pasta and LOVE!!. So I opted for take-out. Chicken Milanese consisting of a large breaded and fried chicken breast was served with pasta covered in pomodora sauce and was quite tasty but could have used a bit more sauce; Eggplant parm was also tasty with a nice crust and sufficient sauce on the pasta; spaghetti and meatballs consistently good and the chicken scallopini was exceptional in its lemon butter sauce with feta. Overall the food was delicious. Carnegie cheesecake made the meal spectacular...the chocolate cake was also good. For a chain restaurant...they do a great job.
(4)Tricia F.
We were in town for a family wedding and the rehearsal dinner was held at Bravos. Our wait staff was great! We were seated in a private room pretty quickly after arriving. Being a chain restaurant, the service is usually the same ~ which isn't a bad thing. The dishes however, are different. I ordered the Pasta Pomodoro. The sauce was incredibly sweet ~ I know this sauce usually is sweet, but tonight it was sweeter than normal. The waitress was so great and had them make me another that wasn't so sweet. You can not go wrong by ordering the Insalata Della Casa salad! Reasonably priced Italian cuisine with a great atmosphere ~ made the evening enjoyable.
(4)Steve F.
The service was excellent. The food however was ordinary. I had the tilapia with shrimp and scallops. The fish was dry and no rice! The veggies were very good however. The "Bravo ensalda" was iceberg lettuce and nothing special. My wife and did indulge in a special bread pudding for desert and it was very good. All in all a nice evening but I would prefer something different next time.
(3)Trevor W.
Good Happy Hour and the Lobster Ravioli is always tasty. And who does not like free bread. The flat bread during happy hour is a tasty deal.
(4)Elizabeth D.
The portobello bruschetta was a nice twist on a classic. My fiance was skeptical about trying something new, but he devoured it! \ His pasta woozie (sp?) had a very watered down alfredo sauce. He's definitely had better. My penne mediterranean was decent. It just didn't wow me. It definitely tasted like something I could throw together easily at home- like a Sandra Lee semi-homemade kinda meal. The chocolate lava dessert was warm, ooey, and gooey delicious. So I guess the meal began with a bang and ended on a high note. The journey in the middle? Not so thrilling.
(3)Kevin K.
I wish I could give a higher review to Bravo! as the decor, atmosphere, and service were all top notch. The low ranking comes entirely from a very lackluster meal that cost way more than what a meal of that quality should. This is probably a place I would skip if I find myself in Louisville again.
(2)Brett W.
To be frank, I don't often seek out chain restaurants in Louisville, mainly due to the ridiculous amount of get locally owned and operated joints. But, my wife and I ended up in the mall area on a Friday night and as the time ticked away, our appetites grew, and it was time to go to the nearest restaurant with an open table. I had dined at a BRAVO! once before in Pennsylvania. As is to be expected, the experience is rather consistent across states. And that is definitely not a bad thing. The service at this location, at least our particular waiter, was right on par. Our waiter was very friendly and responsive and we were actually in and out of this place in a rather short time. I get the feeling that anything you ordered at BRAVO! would be pretty tasty, if safe. I had the Frutti Di Mare and my wife had Shrimp Fra Diavolo Campanelle. Both dishes definitely hit the spot considering our hunger, but really nothing super special. At $16 - $17 a pop, I feel like these dishes are a tad pricey, but I guess all pasta dishes are, considering the huge markup restaurants are able to put on these dishes. We also both enjoyed a glass of wine and my wife liked hers so much that she bought a full bottle for just $1 more than the glass price at Liquor Barn the next day. In summary, BRAVO! is what I thought it would be. Definitely a safe, reliable choice if you are in the area looking for some Italian. Take the grandparents, the picky kids, or anyone else that isn't feeling too adventurous and leave satisfied, if slightly yearning for something just a little more special.
(3)Matt R.
Best italian in the area for the price. You have to try the house salad!!
(5)Tracy W.
I'm from Kansas City, Missouri but was on family vacation with some of my folks from Louisville (Prospect, KY) and we were their for dinner on June 18th. I had the Pasta Bravo which consist of Rigatoni, chicken and mushrooms in a rich red sauce. I asked for Shrimp in addition to the chicken. They forgot to add the shrimp. I wasn't going to say anything but my cousin had a talk with the staff. They said, not to worry and brought me a 2nd dish which consisted of chicken and shrimp and they packed the original one for me to take with me. The dinner was delicious and they spiced it up for me because I like my food hot and spicy. David was the Chef and he came out to see how everyone was doing and Brad was the server. What a classy operation and when I'm in Louisville, I plan on going back. My cousin use them for their catering needs for the Holidays. I didn't realize we had Bravo's in the Kansas City area. I bet they are good but i wonder if they can measure up to these folks. You guys are wonderful. Brad you did a wonderful job.
(5)A. M.
I have eaten at Bravo! a few times, and there were times we got right in and times we had to wait a long time due to lack of servers. Our most recent visit was a fiasco from beginning to end. The bread was good, thank goodness, and the only saving grace. I ordered the half ravioli and house salad. I got lasagna and some other salad (which I ate, even though it wasn't what I wanted.) My mother ordered a chicken chopped salad and got the salmon salad. When we told our waiter she got us the correct dishes, and we did get a backhanded apology from the manager. However, my ravioli was cold and the nuts on moms salad made her whole meal inedible and completely unenjoyable. Even the waiter thought the nuts were way too spicy. (We also never got a follow up with the manager - not that we would have told him that anything else was wrong.... once is enough. But it would have given us a better impression if we'd thought he was concerned or even paying attention.) To end the meal on a high note, we decided to try their specially made New York cheesecake. Oh my! What a disappointment! It had obviously been around way too long. From the tip to about 1.5inches from the end it was good, but the closer we got to the end the harder and drier it was. Not only that it was small for the price. Considering the quality of the cheese cake, that might have been a blessing. In the end we paid about $50 for lunch and we probably won't be going back any time soon. To sum up - not recommended! There are plenty of other Italian chain restaurants in the area that do a perfectly adequate job.
(1)Simone P.
Lunch with my family was wonderful! But please save room for dessert! Or order it for an appetizer!
(4)Linda M.
On vacation and craving something that wasn't burger related. Nice discovery. We shared a delicious chopped salad, chicken & spinach flatbread pizza and chicken pesto pasta. All so good we had no room for dessert. Attentive waiter who wasn't intrusive. All in all, a good experience.
(4)Abbey V.
The food is good. However, the service from the hosting staff leaves something to be desired. My husband and I once waited for 2 hours, after being told only 30 mins, then when we asked again, it was 10, and so on...I'm sure it's less busy for lunch - which may be worth a try.
(2)Mr And Mrs G.
Mr says.... always a pleasure to come here knowing they're open late evening when i'm usually craving for a rich meal Mrs says.... dinner at 10pm? this place makes it possible. we love to come here after working long hours to satisfy our growling stomach. soup or salad to start but always with calamari. never a dull moment. as for the main course, we order anything from pizza, penne pasta or pesto to steak and scallops. portions are ok and can be shared with others but with an appetite one can easily clean up a plate but i always end up taking some left over home because either the soup or salad plus calamari's enough to fulfill my appetite.
(4)