We have been back multiple times in the last year and have brought both families and some of my coworkers. Everyone we take is impressed with the service and the food. Gluten free or normal gluten eaters have loved the pasta and agree this is the best Italian restaurant in the Louisville area. The staff never changes, very good sign! This means the owner treats his staff well and cares for them. The one chef even recognizes us when we come in and has shared some gluten free articles from the Louisville area with me. This is our go to place when family/friends come into town! Great atmosphere, food and staff. Try the pink sauce (mix of their Alfredo and marinara sauce) with the sliced sausage which I believe is homemade. Divine!
(5)
Laura K.
Best Chicken Alfredo ever! I can't believe how amazing their food is. Everything seems carefully prepared, even better than homemade food. Food was not steaming hot, but was not cold either.It was just perfect! Pricing was not bad at all, and you get a decent amount of food. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Patty C.
Thank you for saving my birthday dinner last night! We made reservations for Garys on Spring and were extremely disappointed that they drastically changed their menu for Derby. Thank goodness it was still early evening, as we were able to get a cozy outside table at DiFabios. Everything we ordered was delicious - from the apps/drinks to our main course/dessert. Our waiter was friendly, but not overbearing and suggested some spot on dinner entrees (eg. Filet with cranberry/port sauce with mascropone cheese-one of the best steaks I have ever had).
(5)
Whitney B.
Great atmosphere, great food, great service. If you're looking for family Italian, this is the place to be. They also have good happy hours and specials.
(5)
Michelle M.
Very good food and atmosphere. Love the gluten free pasta option. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Amanda R.
I love DiFabio's Casapela on Frankfort! The food was very good, the prices were very reasonable, and most of all I had the best waitress in the entire world while I was there. We went on a Friday and it was a nice quite atmosphere, but she told us if you want some more people interaction, come on a Saturday. Definitely going back!
(5)
Chris S.
Middle of the road Italian with standard (over-priced) pasta. Service was excellent. Presentation was dated but certainly not worth a mark-down. Consider. A plate of meatless pasta for 10 bucks is out dated. Throwing some Italian sounding words around while playing some dean Martin isn't fashionable or fancy anymore. Over priced Italian food is a cultural trope that we must fight back against! The appetizer (escargot) was good but nothing special. The rolls it was served with were steaming hot (microwave anyone?). 3 stars because it's passably good but you're better off passing it over.
(3)
Victoria T.
We arrived at this joint as a party of five (Sexy Beast and the Spawn, Potsy, and me). The first thing that I noticed was how very dark it was in there. The dining room was so dim that I could barely make out that there was another diner in the room. I'm a bit of a vampire, so I am down with the dark but I also like to see what I'm putting in my mouth. It's a holdover from a really awful canned soup experience in 1989. Don't ask. Our waiter was present and pleasant enough. He answered questions, brought the food, and kept our glasses filled. The service was just fine. The food was hit & miss. Sexy Beast and Potsy enjoyed the Escargot. The Garlic Bread was oily. The Baked Goat would have been better without the weirdly sweet marinara. The house salad was generous and the ingredients were fresh but the dressing had an odd peanut flavor that was a bit unpleasant. Sexy Beast ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. The pasta was fine and the chicken was tender and chicken-y but the sauce was a bit bland and thin. Spawn A ordered the Peppercorn Filet and enjoyed it very much. Spawn B had the Spaghetti and Meatballs and declared them "okay". Potsy enjoyed the Chicken Parmagian very much, cleaning the plate. We didn't bother with dessert. The bill was reasonable. We may give it another try, sit outside where we can see the food this time.
(3)
Breck A.
We were looking for a reasonable Italian restaurant in Louisville and were not disappointed with DiFabio's. We had stuffed mushrooms which were very good the Caesar salad was so so. Our entrees were served hot and the sauce was flavorful. One of our party had a delicious chicken parmesan with a nice crispy coating good chicken. I add a baked lasagna which was probably the best I ever had. the other dishes seemed to please the other guests. the shrimp were large and prepared well. we had tiramisu which was delicious and cannolis also delicious. All in all we felt that this was a good value for the mid level pricing for Italian food. We were very pleased with the service our waiter was very attentive and the food was served at appropriate times and appropriate temperatures. He was willing to tell us a little bit about the history of the restaurant which was the oldest building on Frankfort Avenue. He was willing to make recommendations and the recommendations seemed well founded. It was a lovely evening so we were able to dine outside on the porch.
(4)
Rachel G.
I visited DiFabio's with my dad on a weekday ahead of the dinner rush. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones there so we got great service. We ordered the garlic bread to start (delicious!) and also got breadsticks. But what took the cake was the alfredo linguini I ordered. I don't think I've had a better plate of alfredo in my life. The sauce was so creamy...it was just delicious!
(4)
rachel d.
I've been here a few times and the food is always great. The service is also fantastic, the staff is very eager to make sure everything is perfect. We got two appetizers, the bada bing shrimp and the goat cheese dip with chips. They were both very filling and nicely prepared. Our table got a full range of foods: pesto sauce, marinara sauce, veal parmigiana and a steak. Everyone cleaned their plate and were very satisfied with their order and usually it's very hard to please our party. I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Colette H.
This is my third time here and due to my snobby foodie reputation, in perplexed that I made it here three times. Frankly though, everything is really solid. Nothing to knock my socks off but nothing is horrible. Having a glass of palatable Shiraz with some calamari. It's not too greasy and served predictably with a sweet Thai chili sauce and their house marinara. I've had crispier calamari but for the most part it's hard to complain about it. Sometimes I WANT something this predictable. Fried calamari with that cheap Thai chili sauce you can get for $1.50 at the Asian market.. Next comes the salad which thankfully isn't iceberg mix. Hearty green leaf with garbanzo's, black olives from a can, assorted pepperocinis, pickled onions, and a breadstick. Italian dressing of course. It's a solid salad. Nothing new or exciting, but it was fresh and healthy. My entree was probably the most disappointing. I opted for the pick your pasta and sauce feature and selected tortellini with pesto. A pretty safe and boring bet. The tortellini was nothing different from your store bought variety and the pricing was pretty compatible with the quality you got. The most disappointing was the pesto. No garlicky overtones, not even that much of an abundance of basil. It actually just seemed like minced basil and a whole lot of olive oil. ALOT of olive oil. Meaning, I sopped a bunch up with my breadstick from my salad and there was still a ton of olive oil. So the overall effect was a sizeable gut bomb with little flavor. The portion size, however, was not obnoxious. Not huge but not teeny either. We ended with a red velvet cake that was again, good but not something I would write home about. My overall impression is it's not a place to impress but if you have picky eaters visiting or family with kid's, this ain't a bad place.
(3)
Whitney P.
I rarely am in the mood for Italian, but the evening we decided on DiFabio's I was craving Italian. My husband was in the mood for fettuccine. We searched for a local restaurant and settled on DiFabio's. When we entered I was not at ease. We were a little early for dinner on a Saturday, but they were open. I chalked up the lack of greeting to being early. Our waitress seemed preoccupied the entire service. I honestly wanted to leave before we even ordered our appetizer. My husband and I typically give the benefit of the doubt so we stayed. The appetizer was not memorable. For dinner, my husband ordered the fettuccine, the white sauce lacked flavor, and it seemed reheated. I ordered the pink sauce with sausage. The sausage was dry, I barely ate half of my meal. We both left unsatisfied and vowing to not return.
(1)
Kristie T.
The kids and I took advantage of a Groupon here or else we may have never known it was there. The food was great and a small classy atmosphere. The kids liked that they could color on the table paper. They really liked the pizza.
(4)
Michael S.
Fist off the service was great. They were friendly and attentive and knowledgable about the menu. The app we got was the lobster mac and cheese. It was very good. Nice flavor and a generous portion. For the entree I got the lasagna. It was decent. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Again, a generous portion. Its a neat location, it was originally a house I think. You feel like you're seated close to there people but not to the point you have to whisper. Id recommend trying it, Im actually going back tonight for a second visit.
(3)
Debby M.
The restaurant is cute and cozy but I definitely wouldn't go back. It started with the appetizers - the first one, fried green tomatoes, were very dry (which I didn't even know was possible for tomatoes); the second, calamari, was ok, and the cheese garlic bread was just lukewarm. We would've told the waiter about the bread, but his approach to us was kind of off-putting. So then came the salads - my ceaser had olives on it (strange) and way too much dressing; the house salad did get a 2-thumbs up. I was excited for our entrees, because it really did smell good in the restaurant. Unfortunately, my veal parm was extremely dry (which really sucked, because veal parm is my favoirite meal ever!). Plus, we all noticed that there was so much oregano in the sauce that it made the dishes almost burn your throat. On the plus side, the bread sticks were delicious, and it was Happy Hour. So that helped. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)
Jason G.
The Quest for a Breadbasket: A Night of Ceaseless Sorrows I work as a server. I always try to cut the servers a break or be their advocate. But there was no excuse tonight at DiFabio's. My boyfriend and I sat out on the porch, which was actually very pleasant! It was truly a lovely setting. We were in a slight rush so we placed out appetizer order with drinks and then entree order when drinks arrived. We got our appetizer but no bread. No big deal. We watched and waited for our server but he never came to us. We watched him be jovial and interact with another table, attending to them in a friendly way. But we never saw him at our table nor could we get his attention. We asked the only other server on the porch - a female - for bread, truly just "I'm sorry but when you get a chance could we have some bread?" And she literally grunted at us. Or it was more of a scoff really. It was tremendously rude (she never did bring bread). Our server - Brad I think his name was - was noticeably absent; we sat with empty drinks and no bread for about fifteen-twenty minutes. We were finally able to get his attention at which point he did bring bread after being asked. It was just an unnecessary struggle to get BREAD! When we saw every other table with bread! It made for a frustrating experience as it eventually became less about the bread but about GETTING the bread. I felt outrageously asinine on this quest, but it was one I was determined to complete. The food was not terrible. Over seasoned, certainly but not terrible. When our server came by to check on us - at which point we were nearly finished - he just looked at us and mumbled something. It was bizarre. As we waited for the check we heard two other tables around us lamenting the abysmal service and sloppy attention to customers. We left irked but full. I really don't know what our server's problem was. I don't know if he was new? Or he was having an off night? Or was over worked? Or maybe we were too young? Or it was because we were gay and holding hands? I don't know. But then again the server who scoffed at our bread request was also none too courteous, so maybe that's the DiFabio's standard. The bottom line is we will possibly go back but it's highly unlikely. I'd rather go somewhere where I can engage with the sever, not constantly be looking for him.
(2)
Austin B.
This is one of the great eats of louisville my girlfriend had a wonderful time. The service was phenomenal the atmosphere was cosy and i could die happy after eating that heaven they served. I could not recommend this place more.
(5)
Cassie A.
I've been here twice and keep looking for opportunities to go back. The food is amazing and all family recipes. I've eaten the fettucine alfredo with chicken and the tortellini in pink sauce with chicken. There chicken is a "special recipe" and is a really good addition to any pasta and the pink sauce is a mix of their marinara and alfredo sauces. The wine is list is very good and the waiters are very knowledgeable about the selections. I've always been too full for dessert, but it all looks good. All meals come with family style salad and some very tasty breadsticks. The restaurant is small, but does have a nice porch for outdoor seating. When you enter you can see into the kitchen on your right and the dining room is on the left. It is cozy and romantic, very italian. This is a great place to take a date. Overall I cannot recommend this place more!
(5)
Lauren H.
Great service! Our food was excellent. I feel it was a little pricey for the quality but it was very good "mom and pop" style Italian food. We will return but next time split an entree. They give A LOT of food!
(4)
Jasmine A.
Since moving to Louisville, I have yet to discover an awesome Italian Restaurant. Despite my reluctance to imbibe yet another disappointing pasta dish, I was intrigued by Shal V. and Melanie K's drastically disparate reviews. In the end, I think Shal nailed it on the head. While the food at Difabio's isn't terrible, the dishes that my friends and I ordered were underwhelming and, honestly, a bit over-priced. I ordered the Chicken Marsala $15, per our server's recommendation, and thought the sauce tasted like a balsamic reduction poured over angel hair pasta. My two friends ordered Fettuccine with chicken Alfredo $15 and Fettuccine with chicken and pesto sauce $13 and found their entrees to be equally uninspired. While I don't mind simplicity, I do expect food that is rich and flavorful. Unfortunately, Difabio's failed to deliver in this arena. On a positive note, I agree with the other reviews and found our server to be attentive but not overbearing. We also lucked out and wandered in during Difabio's 1/2 priced wine night which was a nice perk. Those who are interested in checking this place out, they do offer drink specials on several other nights of the week. In addition to offering: 1/2 price wine bottles on Thursday nights, from 4pm -7pm on Wed and 4pm - 8pm on Sun, they also sell 1/2 price appetizers, glasses of house wine, & well drinks. As well as $2.00 domestic beer bottles.
(3)
Chris M.
My wife and I have agreed that Difabio's EASILY earns it's place in our weekly date rotation. Every time we come we are beyond pleased with our food and service. My go to dish is the Marsala (chicken or veal, both are killer), and my wife's is the salmon, which is always cooked to perfection. We consistently recommend this place because many folks don't seem to know that it even exists. After all, it's tucked between Vint and the Irish Rover in a renovated old house and can be easy to over look. Regardless, it has a really a special atmosphere and is a great place to take a date or to have a nice lunch. 5 stars every time!
(5)
Mark P.
Love this wonderful, local treasure. As a regular I have tried many of the dishes. All are wonderful but the veal piccata is superb. You can't go wrong at DiFabios!
(5)
Sarah H.
We are so so so sick of chain restaurants!!! This is what brought us to DiFabios. We have decided that when we can't decide on a non chain restaurant to dine at we will just drive down Frankfort Avenue and pick something new to try. We aren't in that area too often so we forget about it and we never remember what all is over there. So last night this is exactly what we did. We arrived at around 8 and were seated right away at the one available table inside, score! We decided to keep it basic for our first visit because I feel that you can tell a lot about an Italian restaurant by their marinara and pasta dishes. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and my husband went with a spaghetti and meat sauce. We also ordered garlic bread as an appetizer. The bread was delicious but how hard is it to toast bread with garlic butter and top it with melted cheese? Even so it was definitely tasty. The salad was also good. I liked that it had banana pepper rings, pickled red onions and garbanzo beans on it as these aren't common to every salad from an Italian restaurant. The dressing was decent and I was glad the tomatoes were easily removed since I'm not a fan. The pasta dishes arrived in a reasonable amount of time and they were huge! My husbands meat sauce was a touch spicy like maybe they use a spicy Italian sausage to make it. It was very flavorful. The chicken Parmesan was also very good but the breading on the chicken could have used a touch of salt. Overall though a very solid dish. The pasta was all cooked correctly which unfortunately is not always the case at other Italian restaurants since that should be one thing that is always perfect if you're running an Italian eatery. Between the two of us we had enough leftover to be a full meal for the next day and since Italian it about the only food that I will always reheat for the next days lunch that was great to me. Maybe not fine dining quality but definitely a solid little Italian eatery! We will definitely be back!
(4)
Michele W.
Great little Italian Restaurant, in a quaint old house. The pasta was excellent. The service very good. I definitely will go back.
(4)
Val H.
Great house wine, and the Gorgonzola Filet is the most scrumptious main dish I've experienced in my recent memory. I wanted to lick the plate. Amazingly good. The salad and bread are average, not anything special. Side dishes are definitely special. Fresh and pure tastes. Very nice!
(4)
Melanie K.
Mama Mia I'm a VIP! This small mom and pop Italian Restaurant is a must try. The menu may seem limited, but trust me when I say the flavor is limitless. They have the classic candles, table clothes, and small interior you would expect from a local business in a small city in Italy. A family style salad is served with your entrees and they carry great dinner red wines. We ordered the Seared Ahi, and although a little over cooked for my taste the fresh spinach and Gorgonzola cheese made up for any over Medium parts. The portions are perfect size to fill up on and you can get as many fresh baked bread-sticks as you want. We came 45 minutes before close and were treated like they were first opening. We got to sit in a private room that had been closed previously that evening so we did not have to wait for an open table. The owner stopped by to make sure we were having a good first time and our server caramelized our creme brulee right at the table to our preference. I hope my boyfriend gets the romantic bug again and takes me back soon.
(5)
James T.
1st, from the host to the waiter till we walked out the door. We got some of the best service we have ever received in Louisville. 2. The Menu read as your typical neighborhood Italian restaurant. This isn't a bad thing. There wasn't any surprises. 3. The prices were within reason for other Italian places. 4. When the entrees came they had been prepared with a little twist. Personally, I was expecting it and felt that all though the food was great, I was wanting what my "Mind's Eye" had selected. My wife, on the other hand, loved the twists and raved about it the rest of the evening. Did I mention she is Italian? 4. We ordered coffee and split a desert. They hit it out of the park. The coffee was fantastic and the desert was perfect for two people and was the perfect ending to a great experience.
(4)
Jeff N.
1) Louisville being a "foodie" kind of town, people here will eat toasted gravel on tree bark and rave about it. 2) Nobody wants to cook at home anymore. 3) Notice the spelling of the commenters here and decide from there if they really know what they're talking about. DiFabio's makes their own sauces but they do not make their own pasta. How 'bout that in an Italian restaurant? Prices are bit inflated. Service is great. All menu items a la carte so two people are going to end up w/ a bil somewhere in the range of $40 minimum, $55 mid-range and possibly up to $70. The chains are about as good. So decide how much you want to pay for Italian and then make your restaurant decision from there.
(2)
Candi B.
Everything I had was delicious. I read a review in the Courier Journal and then had to try it out. They lived up to the review!!
(5)
Jeanne L.
We were visiting Ft Knox and were looking for some good Italian, reasonably priced and relaxing restaruant. Read the reviews. We ended up with the same waiter as in a review. My chicken Marsala was beyond words. I will probably never find another place that makes it the same way. My fiance's filet was consumed entirely in a blink of an eye. Our dessert presentation of tiramisu was fabulous. Our waiter suggested a lovely wine that went well with our meal. We will definitely return if we are back in the area.
(4)
Hannah L.
Overall a solid dinner with no complaints - pasta was well cooked and portioned appropriately, and it was nice that salad and bread sticks were included. The service was attentive, but the decor could definitely stand to be updated.Would be a great standby takeout option.
(4)
Christina S.
What an enjoyable date night! Sunday night on the patio with 1/2 price appetizers and wine and beer specials. Justin made our experience perfect with knowledgable and courteous service. We loved the goat cheese appetizer, and the pesto sauce is my favorite!
(5)
Joel K.
I need your undivided attention because I am going to tell you a short story. Last weekend I got together with a couple of my friends and decided that we needed a weekend getaway from work. The place we picked was the Louisville, KY area as the best place to kick back and "recharge our batteries". We stayed at the HORSESHOE CASINO in the nearby town in ELIZABETH, INDIANA. The reason why we picked this place over a plain hotel was because we would be able to have access to restaurants and entertainment almost any time of the day. This HORSESHOE CASINO was one of the best places that I have every stayed. The entire hotel was spotless. Our rooms were amazingly large. We stayed on the 5th floor which gave us a panoramic view of the area. We found the casino staff bending over backwards to make our stay a memorable one. At the casino, the restaurants were top-shelf because of the food and staff who attended to our every need as if we were great friends. Pricing for the food and hotel were reasonable. We did find ourselves venturing out to explore the area. We went to the COME BACK INN, Jeffersonville, IN and had a wonderful time with great food and great conversation with the employees. The food was great and prices very reasonable. If I were a local, this would be a regular stop for me. Next, we went to DIFABIO'S CASAPELA located in Louisville, KY which was another great place for us to dine. What really surprised us was during the meal, the chef/owner came to our table to make sure that the food and the service was flawless. The food was superb and the service impeccable and the prices were extremely reasonable. An unexpected bonus to our stay was a large car show next to the river walk area and a festival downtown! MAYBE, I MIGHT JUST MOVE THERE!!
(5)
Nathan Y.
Fantastic service, food, atmosphere... this place is great! It didn't seem to be a busy night when I was dining, and we were seated right away. I ordered the Veal Parmigiana; absolutely wonderful. It's hard to find a decently priced Italian restaurant that will still serve veal, but they have it, and boy is it good. The house wine for the evening was a Merlot/Cabernet/Shiraz that perfectly complimented the red sauce that came with my entree and pasta. In all honesty, I would choose this place over it's swanky neighbors, Volare, Varanese, The Rover... I would definitely return for a delicious home-cooked Italian meal. As a concierge at The Brown downtown, I will most certainly be sending our guests their way!
(5)
Jamie C.
My favorite Italian in all of Louisville. It's a great mom and pop owned place and they concentrate on making fine dishes and making the customer feel welcome. I've always had superb service which always makes me go back, but also the food is just exquisite. They do not have a large menu which is awesome, because it means that everything on it is awesome. The peppercorn filet is a must as well as the vodka sauce you can get on entrees. Support this place!
(5)
Shal V.
My friend from the UK would always state sardonically that Guinness signs on green walls do not make a bar an Irish Pub. Likewise, an Italian flag fluttering outside the door does not necessarily equate to good Italian food. Often smaller Italian restaurants in this country have similar menus (Lasagna, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pizza, Garlic Bread) with most dishes usually topped with a mountain of cheese that will probably have you reaching for a bottle of laxatives the next day. The menu does not do justice to a cuisine that is so rich, flavorful and varied. I have to admit I have yet to find a good Italian restaurant in this town. One evening my wife and I decided to go to Difabio's for dinner. It was a lovely night so we sat outside. The service was a wee bit sluggish initially (server was nowhere to be seen after we sat down, which resulted in us skipping the appetizer and going straight for the entrees) but improved considerably as the night wore on. I got the chicken piccata (mushroom and capers in a lemony white wine sauce served with angel hair pasta) and my wife got pasta with meatballs. The menu is not extensive but that is not a selling point for me as long as the dishes on offer are exemplary. However, both of our dishes were a bit underwhelming. They weren't bad but not memorable. I want to try some of the other items on the menu and I don't believe in writing a restaurant off based on one experience unless the service and food were egregious. But I don't think I'll be rushing there. The standard entrees like lasagna and spaghetti are definitely pricier than what you'd find at Mom and Pop places, and the taste isn't so unique or spectacular to warrant paying the extra dollars.
(3)
Rachel F.
The service was great. Food pretty decent. Not a bad wait and decently priced. We pretty much all had your typical pasta dishes with a couple salads around the table. Again, super impressed with the waitress, the quick seating and her attention without being in our faces - even though we were sitting by the kitchen. Even on a trolley hop Friday night - how we ended up there in the first place. The food was all good - just not anything that stood out to me as worth seeking out. I'd go back, but I wouldn't suggest it as far as Frankfort Ave goes.
(3)
Jennie D.
My husband and I are new to the Louisville area and we are all about finding the restaurants that are off the beaten path. While this is in a GREAT location you can definitley be sure your not going to find your typical "chain" restaurant. We sat on their open air front porch and very much enjoyed being able to people watch. We started with escargo and baked goat cheese--both were AWESOME!! Followed by their house salad, very tasty! I ordered the chicken parm and hubby had the chicken marsala. My chicken parm was VERY spicy to the point that I had to trade entrees with my husband. He really likes spicy food so it was good for him. And I was very pleased with the chicken marsala. The service was top notch--made conversation without intruding. The manager even came by and checked in with us. The reason for 4 stars was due to the menu not mentioning just how spicy the chicken parm was nor did the server mention this. The other reason was the bread plate on the table was dirty and had to be replaced, which they did immediately. Nothing that would stop us from going back for some made from scratch Italian food made with love!! :) I definitely say TRY IT!!
(4)
Rob D.
I just finished eating carry-out from Difabio's, which marks our second visit to this restaurant. We've ordered a handful of dishes and appetizers, and to be blunt, none of it was good. I wouldn't consider myself a food snob, and I'm generally not even that critical when it comes to Italian fare. The seasoning and flavor from dish to dish varies from lacking to just not good. Even something as basic as marinara sauce was not good, and for an Italian restaurant to not do a good job at something as basic as marinara sauce is a little puzzling.
(2)
Lindsay B.
Family-Style Italian. That is the theme they're going for at DiFabio's, and that is definitely the theme they have achieved. In stark contrast to the two additional Italian restaurants local to Frankfort Avenue, DiFabio's doesn't boast glamour or bravado, but instead focuses on serving up outstanding authentic home-style Italian cuisine in a casual, friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. (Come dressed to the nines or in your post-game gear; in either case, you are a welcome guest at DiFabio's Casapela). The service is always excellent! In fact, it is not unusual to have your dinner brought to the table by one of the owners or chefs. The food, like the atmosphere, is comfortably unpretentious, and simultaneously DELECTABLE! Every section of the menu is worthy of note ... and taste, for that matter. My favorite Italian restaurant in Louisville.
(5)
Kellyo O.
Meh. Hubby and I love the owner (met one night at the restaurant) but the food is nothing great. Pretty plain actually. The waiter recommended the special so we went with that. And we split it which was an extra charge. I asked them not to split the plate and not charge us but we were told they had to. So stupid. So $5 to dirty an extra dish? whatever. The rating is solely on the food taste though. I just know there has to be good Italian around here somewhere.
(2)
Sarah C.
I have visited here once before....a long time ago and was not impressed. I didn't think I would be back here for a second go just because I usually do not gravitate towards italian restaurants and def not one that I didn't love on the first try. I am SO glad I gave it another shot. My friend wanted to go their for her birthday dinner and so I obliged her request. We were there on a Sunday and they have happy hour on Sundays! First big win of the evening! Half price apps, house wines, and specials on wells and domestic beers (i think that concludes the specials). Of course we imbibed. :) We started with a goat cheese and marina dip of sorts that was served with some pretty tasty pita type chips. Yummy all the way if you love goat cheese and marina! I decided to have some cheese ravioli with pesto sauce and instead of a meat I added veggies. So glad I did that! The ravioli were so delicious and the pesto was perfect! I loved the added texture and flavors of the veggies (zucchini and yellow squash). The birthday girl went with the chicken piccata and devoured it! The size of the capers were unbelievable. And good...I know because I tasted one for myself. I am already planning a return visit. Some things deserve second tries...that's my lesson from this particular meal.
(4)
Krista M.
My boyfriend brought me here on valentines day, I was confused at first. I have a gluten allergy, before I was diagnosed with it I loved Italian food. However, with a gluten allergy the last place you want to eat at is an Italian restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised though! My boyfriend did his homework. Their menu is gluten-free friendly and the staff was knowledgeable about my needs. The chef came to my table to discuss options, stopped by after my food was delivered to check on how it tasted, and had genuinely nice/caring conversations with us. Not only was the service wonderful but so was their food. It is hard to find restaurants who provide delicious gluten-free noodles and they definitely delivered. Not only was my meal delicious but so was my boyfriends. We both couldn't stop raving about their food and service after we left. Our overall experience was one for the books and I am so happy that we spent our Valentines Day at DiFabio's. We can't wait to go back!
(5)
Diane R.
The food and drinks were good but was like something I could make at home. The appetizer was a brie like cheese with the strawberry glaze and tasted more like a desert but was very good. The service was great.
(4)
Marissa F.
Best Italian Margaritas in town! Reasonable prices, great food. Sunday Happy Hour!
(4)
Sandy K.
Went on Sunday when it's 1/2 price all day on house wine, well drinks and appetizers. The calamari was tender but not much flavor unless using the sauces. The Ahi tuna entree was fabulous ordering medium rare. Also the salmon on special entree with vodka sauce great. I just came back from Miami S. Beach and thought I had the best Tiramasu there! Wrong!! It's here. When you cut a slice, the booze comes oozing out the bottom. Simply fabulous and even better then The Rivue downtown at top of Galt House ( if I'm allowed to say!) Cannoli's stuffed with cherry chocolate and ricotta melt in your mouth. Our waiter Justin was great. We were first ones to enter and 2nd to last to leave so Sunday best value AND service!!
(4)
Michele B.
This is a difficult review because I really want them to succeed. I've been here a few times and also gotten carry out. Staff very friendly. This poor place has the potential to be really good, but just keeps missing the mark ever so slightly. Not good considering the high caliber other Italian restaurants that are a stones throw away that hit the mark everytime (Volare and Porcini). It has never been busy when my husband I have gone. We have sat alone or with just another couple in the dining room many times. A little uncomfortable. Almost feels like you are in someones basement, no music, no other noise, just the occasional bustling of the kitchen. The food is actually pretty good, and has gotten better since our first few visits. Portions are large. Prices are reasonable as well. The whole entrance to the restaurant needs to be reworked. It just doesn't feel inviting, but more like you are trespassing onto someones' front porch. Not quite sure how to accomplish this since it is an old house, but I'm sure something could be done to open it up. Carryout one time took forever, and it wasn't busy. Part of order was missed, but caught by staff prior to leaving, and then the credit card machine wouldn't work. I think it may have been operator error since someone came out of the kitchen and was able to get it to work. So, I know there is a magic bullet in there somewhere, just not sure if they'll find it before the competition gets the best of them. Despite the 2 star review, go on and give it a try. Like I said, the food is pretty good and it is an interesting experience.
(2)
Jason R.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Louisville. It helps that it's close to home but their Gluten Free pasta is always cooked to perfection and their vodka sauce with sausage is tremendous. Last time I walked in they recognized me right away too, that's always a nice feeling. I've brought my family there when they visited L'ville and they all loved it too, coming from a family who grew up on Italian food...that says a lot. I'm making myself crave it just typing it right now! Maybe they can make it for breakfast for me...
(5)
Jason M.
Been meaning to hit this place again, and I'm glad I did! Great service and excellent food. I love small places like this, and the owners are a great couple who aim to please their customers. The cozy atmosphere has no stuffiness to it, nor does it have overly loud or ill-chosen music. Their lasagna and chicken piccata are marvelous. I cannot wait to go back and try more!
(4)
Joyce L.
Strongly advise to pass this one up. Many restauranteurs care a lot, some care somewhat, but these owners don't care- Not about their customers or quality of the food they serve. I suspect they'll be out of business soon. We were warned and gave it a shot anyway. Bad attitudes towards clientele in all areas. Food was under cooked and cold. No grace in the environment. Bad bad bad.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Anastasia U.
We have been back multiple times in the last year and have brought both families and some of my coworkers. Everyone we take is impressed with the service and the food. Gluten free or normal gluten eaters have loved the pasta and agree this is the best Italian restaurant in the Louisville area. The staff never changes, very good sign! This means the owner treats his staff well and cares for them. The one chef even recognizes us when we come in and has shared some gluten free articles from the Louisville area with me. This is our go to place when family/friends come into town! Great atmosphere, food and staff. Try the pink sauce (mix of their Alfredo and marinara sauce) with the sliced sausage which I believe is homemade. Divine!
(5)Laura K.
Best Chicken Alfredo ever! I can't believe how amazing their food is. Everything seems carefully prepared, even better than homemade food. Food was not steaming hot, but was not cold either.It was just perfect! Pricing was not bad at all, and you get a decent amount of food. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Patty C.
Thank you for saving my birthday dinner last night! We made reservations for Garys on Spring and were extremely disappointed that they drastically changed their menu for Derby. Thank goodness it was still early evening, as we were able to get a cozy outside table at DiFabios. Everything we ordered was delicious - from the apps/drinks to our main course/dessert. Our waiter was friendly, but not overbearing and suggested some spot on dinner entrees (eg. Filet with cranberry/port sauce with mascropone cheese-one of the best steaks I have ever had).
(5)Whitney B.
Great atmosphere, great food, great service. If you're looking for family Italian, this is the place to be. They also have good happy hours and specials.
(5)Michelle M.
Very good food and atmosphere. Love the gluten free pasta option. Definitely coming back!
(5)Amanda R.
I love DiFabio's Casapela on Frankfort! The food was very good, the prices were very reasonable, and most of all I had the best waitress in the entire world while I was there. We went on a Friday and it was a nice quite atmosphere, but she told us if you want some more people interaction, come on a Saturday. Definitely going back!
(5)Chris S.
Middle of the road Italian with standard (over-priced) pasta. Service was excellent. Presentation was dated but certainly not worth a mark-down. Consider. A plate of meatless pasta for 10 bucks is out dated. Throwing some Italian sounding words around while playing some dean Martin isn't fashionable or fancy anymore. Over priced Italian food is a cultural trope that we must fight back against! The appetizer (escargot) was good but nothing special. The rolls it was served with were steaming hot (microwave anyone?). 3 stars because it's passably good but you're better off passing it over.
(3)Victoria T.
We arrived at this joint as a party of five (Sexy Beast and the Spawn, Potsy, and me). The first thing that I noticed was how very dark it was in there. The dining room was so dim that I could barely make out that there was another diner in the room. I'm a bit of a vampire, so I am down with the dark but I also like to see what I'm putting in my mouth. It's a holdover from a really awful canned soup experience in 1989. Don't ask. Our waiter was present and pleasant enough. He answered questions, brought the food, and kept our glasses filled. The service was just fine. The food was hit & miss. Sexy Beast and Potsy enjoyed the Escargot. The Garlic Bread was oily. The Baked Goat would have been better without the weirdly sweet marinara. The house salad was generous and the ingredients were fresh but the dressing had an odd peanut flavor that was a bit unpleasant. Sexy Beast ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken. The pasta was fine and the chicken was tender and chicken-y but the sauce was a bit bland and thin. Spawn A ordered the Peppercorn Filet and enjoyed it very much. Spawn B had the Spaghetti and Meatballs and declared them "okay". Potsy enjoyed the Chicken Parmagian very much, cleaning the plate. We didn't bother with dessert. The bill was reasonable. We may give it another try, sit outside where we can see the food this time.
(3)Breck A.
We were looking for a reasonable Italian restaurant in Louisville and were not disappointed with DiFabio's. We had stuffed mushrooms which were very good the Caesar salad was so so. Our entrees were served hot and the sauce was flavorful. One of our party had a delicious chicken parmesan with a nice crispy coating good chicken. I add a baked lasagna which was probably the best I ever had. the other dishes seemed to please the other guests. the shrimp were large and prepared well. we had tiramisu which was delicious and cannolis also delicious. All in all we felt that this was a good value for the mid level pricing for Italian food. We were very pleased with the service our waiter was very attentive and the food was served at appropriate times and appropriate temperatures. He was willing to tell us a little bit about the history of the restaurant which was the oldest building on Frankfort Avenue. He was willing to make recommendations and the recommendations seemed well founded. It was a lovely evening so we were able to dine outside on the porch.
(4)Rachel G.
I visited DiFabio's with my dad on a weekday ahead of the dinner rush. I'm pretty sure we were the only ones there so we got great service. We ordered the garlic bread to start (delicious!) and also got breadsticks. But what took the cake was the alfredo linguini I ordered. I don't think I've had a better plate of alfredo in my life. The sauce was so creamy...it was just delicious!
(4)rachel d.
I've been here a few times and the food is always great. The service is also fantastic, the staff is very eager to make sure everything is perfect. We got two appetizers, the bada bing shrimp and the goat cheese dip with chips. They were both very filling and nicely prepared. Our table got a full range of foods: pesto sauce, marinara sauce, veal parmigiana and a steak. Everyone cleaned their plate and were very satisfied with their order and usually it's very hard to please our party. I definitely recommend this restaurant.
(5)Colette H.
This is my third time here and due to my snobby foodie reputation, in perplexed that I made it here three times. Frankly though, everything is really solid. Nothing to knock my socks off but nothing is horrible. Having a glass of palatable Shiraz with some calamari. It's not too greasy and served predictably with a sweet Thai chili sauce and their house marinara. I've had crispier calamari but for the most part it's hard to complain about it. Sometimes I WANT something this predictable. Fried calamari with that cheap Thai chili sauce you can get for $1.50 at the Asian market.. Next comes the salad which thankfully isn't iceberg mix. Hearty green leaf with garbanzo's, black olives from a can, assorted pepperocinis, pickled onions, and a breadstick. Italian dressing of course. It's a solid salad. Nothing new or exciting, but it was fresh and healthy. My entree was probably the most disappointing. I opted for the pick your pasta and sauce feature and selected tortellini with pesto. A pretty safe and boring bet. The tortellini was nothing different from your store bought variety and the pricing was pretty compatible with the quality you got. The most disappointing was the pesto. No garlicky overtones, not even that much of an abundance of basil. It actually just seemed like minced basil and a whole lot of olive oil. ALOT of olive oil. Meaning, I sopped a bunch up with my breadstick from my salad and there was still a ton of olive oil. So the overall effect was a sizeable gut bomb with little flavor. The portion size, however, was not obnoxious. Not huge but not teeny either. We ended with a red velvet cake that was again, good but not something I would write home about. My overall impression is it's not a place to impress but if you have picky eaters visiting or family with kid's, this ain't a bad place.
(3)Whitney P.
I rarely am in the mood for Italian, but the evening we decided on DiFabio's I was craving Italian. My husband was in the mood for fettuccine. We searched for a local restaurant and settled on DiFabio's. When we entered I was not at ease. We were a little early for dinner on a Saturday, but they were open. I chalked up the lack of greeting to being early. Our waitress seemed preoccupied the entire service. I honestly wanted to leave before we even ordered our appetizer. My husband and I typically give the benefit of the doubt so we stayed. The appetizer was not memorable. For dinner, my husband ordered the fettuccine, the white sauce lacked flavor, and it seemed reheated. I ordered the pink sauce with sausage. The sausage was dry, I barely ate half of my meal. We both left unsatisfied and vowing to not return.
(1)Kristie T.
The kids and I took advantage of a Groupon here or else we may have never known it was there. The food was great and a small classy atmosphere. The kids liked that they could color on the table paper. They really liked the pizza.
(4)Michael S.
Fist off the service was great. They were friendly and attentive and knowledgable about the menu. The app we got was the lobster mac and cheese. It was very good. Nice flavor and a generous portion. For the entree I got the lasagna. It was decent. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Again, a generous portion. Its a neat location, it was originally a house I think. You feel like you're seated close to there people but not to the point you have to whisper. Id recommend trying it, Im actually going back tonight for a second visit.
(3)Debby M.
The restaurant is cute and cozy but I definitely wouldn't go back. It started with the appetizers - the first one, fried green tomatoes, were very dry (which I didn't even know was possible for tomatoes); the second, calamari, was ok, and the cheese garlic bread was just lukewarm. We would've told the waiter about the bread, but his approach to us was kind of off-putting. So then came the salads - my ceaser had olives on it (strange) and way too much dressing; the house salad did get a 2-thumbs up. I was excited for our entrees, because it really did smell good in the restaurant. Unfortunately, my veal parm was extremely dry (which really sucked, because veal parm is my favoirite meal ever!). Plus, we all noticed that there was so much oregano in the sauce that it made the dishes almost burn your throat. On the plus side, the bread sticks were delicious, and it was Happy Hour. So that helped. I wouldn't recommend this place.
(1)Jason G.
The Quest for a Breadbasket: A Night of Ceaseless Sorrows I work as a server. I always try to cut the servers a break or be their advocate. But there was no excuse tonight at DiFabio's. My boyfriend and I sat out on the porch, which was actually very pleasant! It was truly a lovely setting. We were in a slight rush so we placed out appetizer order with drinks and then entree order when drinks arrived. We got our appetizer but no bread. No big deal. We watched and waited for our server but he never came to us. We watched him be jovial and interact with another table, attending to them in a friendly way. But we never saw him at our table nor could we get his attention. We asked the only other server on the porch - a female - for bread, truly just "I'm sorry but when you get a chance could we have some bread?" And she literally grunted at us. Or it was more of a scoff really. It was tremendously rude (she never did bring bread). Our server - Brad I think his name was - was noticeably absent; we sat with empty drinks and no bread for about fifteen-twenty minutes. We were finally able to get his attention at which point he did bring bread after being asked. It was just an unnecessary struggle to get BREAD! When we saw every other table with bread! It made for a frustrating experience as it eventually became less about the bread but about GETTING the bread. I felt outrageously asinine on this quest, but it was one I was determined to complete. The food was not terrible. Over seasoned, certainly but not terrible. When our server came by to check on us - at which point we were nearly finished - he just looked at us and mumbled something. It was bizarre. As we waited for the check we heard two other tables around us lamenting the abysmal service and sloppy attention to customers. We left irked but full. I really don't know what our server's problem was. I don't know if he was new? Or he was having an off night? Or was over worked? Or maybe we were too young? Or it was because we were gay and holding hands? I don't know. But then again the server who scoffed at our bread request was also none too courteous, so maybe that's the DiFabio's standard. The bottom line is we will possibly go back but it's highly unlikely. I'd rather go somewhere where I can engage with the sever, not constantly be looking for him.
(2)Austin B.
This is one of the great eats of louisville my girlfriend had a wonderful time. The service was phenomenal the atmosphere was cosy and i could die happy after eating that heaven they served. I could not recommend this place more.
(5)Cassie A.
I've been here twice and keep looking for opportunities to go back. The food is amazing and all family recipes. I've eaten the fettucine alfredo with chicken and the tortellini in pink sauce with chicken. There chicken is a "special recipe" and is a really good addition to any pasta and the pink sauce is a mix of their marinara and alfredo sauces. The wine is list is very good and the waiters are very knowledgeable about the selections. I've always been too full for dessert, but it all looks good. All meals come with family style salad and some very tasty breadsticks. The restaurant is small, but does have a nice porch for outdoor seating. When you enter you can see into the kitchen on your right and the dining room is on the left. It is cozy and romantic, very italian. This is a great place to take a date. Overall I cannot recommend this place more!
(5)Lauren H.
Great service! Our food was excellent. I feel it was a little pricey for the quality but it was very good "mom and pop" style Italian food. We will return but next time split an entree. They give A LOT of food!
(4)Jasmine A.
Since moving to Louisville, I have yet to discover an awesome Italian Restaurant. Despite my reluctance to imbibe yet another disappointing pasta dish, I was intrigued by Shal V. and Melanie K's drastically disparate reviews. In the end, I think Shal nailed it on the head. While the food at Difabio's isn't terrible, the dishes that my friends and I ordered were underwhelming and, honestly, a bit over-priced. I ordered the Chicken Marsala $15, per our server's recommendation, and thought the sauce tasted like a balsamic reduction poured over angel hair pasta. My two friends ordered Fettuccine with chicken Alfredo $15 and Fettuccine with chicken and pesto sauce $13 and found their entrees to be equally uninspired. While I don't mind simplicity, I do expect food that is rich and flavorful. Unfortunately, Difabio's failed to deliver in this arena. On a positive note, I agree with the other reviews and found our server to be attentive but not overbearing. We also lucked out and wandered in during Difabio's 1/2 priced wine night which was a nice perk. Those who are interested in checking this place out, they do offer drink specials on several other nights of the week. In addition to offering: 1/2 price wine bottles on Thursday nights, from 4pm -7pm on Wed and 4pm - 8pm on Sun, they also sell 1/2 price appetizers, glasses of house wine, & well drinks. As well as $2.00 domestic beer bottles.
(3)Chris M.
My wife and I have agreed that Difabio's EASILY earns it's place in our weekly date rotation. Every time we come we are beyond pleased with our food and service. My go to dish is the Marsala (chicken or veal, both are killer), and my wife's is the salmon, which is always cooked to perfection. We consistently recommend this place because many folks don't seem to know that it even exists. After all, it's tucked between Vint and the Irish Rover in a renovated old house and can be easy to over look. Regardless, it has a really a special atmosphere and is a great place to take a date or to have a nice lunch. 5 stars every time!
(5)Mark P.
Love this wonderful, local treasure. As a regular I have tried many of the dishes. All are wonderful but the veal piccata is superb. You can't go wrong at DiFabios!
(5)Sarah H.
We are so so so sick of chain restaurants!!! This is what brought us to DiFabios. We have decided that when we can't decide on a non chain restaurant to dine at we will just drive down Frankfort Avenue and pick something new to try. We aren't in that area too often so we forget about it and we never remember what all is over there. So last night this is exactly what we did. We arrived at around 8 and were seated right away at the one available table inside, score! We decided to keep it basic for our first visit because I feel that you can tell a lot about an Italian restaurant by their marinara and pasta dishes. I ordered the chicken Parmesan and my husband went with a spaghetti and meat sauce. We also ordered garlic bread as an appetizer. The bread was delicious but how hard is it to toast bread with garlic butter and top it with melted cheese? Even so it was definitely tasty. The salad was also good. I liked that it had banana pepper rings, pickled red onions and garbanzo beans on it as these aren't common to every salad from an Italian restaurant. The dressing was decent and I was glad the tomatoes were easily removed since I'm not a fan. The pasta dishes arrived in a reasonable amount of time and they were huge! My husbands meat sauce was a touch spicy like maybe they use a spicy Italian sausage to make it. It was very flavorful. The chicken Parmesan was also very good but the breading on the chicken could have used a touch of salt. Overall though a very solid dish. The pasta was all cooked correctly which unfortunately is not always the case at other Italian restaurants since that should be one thing that is always perfect if you're running an Italian eatery. Between the two of us we had enough leftover to be a full meal for the next day and since Italian it about the only food that I will always reheat for the next days lunch that was great to me. Maybe not fine dining quality but definitely a solid little Italian eatery! We will definitely be back!
(4)Michele W.
Great little Italian Restaurant, in a quaint old house. The pasta was excellent. The service very good. I definitely will go back.
(4)Val H.
Great house wine, and the Gorgonzola Filet is the most scrumptious main dish I've experienced in my recent memory. I wanted to lick the plate. Amazingly good. The salad and bread are average, not anything special. Side dishes are definitely special. Fresh and pure tastes. Very nice!
(4)Melanie K.
Mama Mia I'm a VIP! This small mom and pop Italian Restaurant is a must try. The menu may seem limited, but trust me when I say the flavor is limitless. They have the classic candles, table clothes, and small interior you would expect from a local business in a small city in Italy. A family style salad is served with your entrees and they carry great dinner red wines. We ordered the Seared Ahi, and although a little over cooked for my taste the fresh spinach and Gorgonzola cheese made up for any over Medium parts. The portions are perfect size to fill up on and you can get as many fresh baked bread-sticks as you want. We came 45 minutes before close and were treated like they were first opening. We got to sit in a private room that had been closed previously that evening so we did not have to wait for an open table. The owner stopped by to make sure we were having a good first time and our server caramelized our creme brulee right at the table to our preference. I hope my boyfriend gets the romantic bug again and takes me back soon.
(5)James T.
1st, from the host to the waiter till we walked out the door. We got some of the best service we have ever received in Louisville. 2. The Menu read as your typical neighborhood Italian restaurant. This isn't a bad thing. There wasn't any surprises. 3. The prices were within reason for other Italian places. 4. When the entrees came they had been prepared with a little twist. Personally, I was expecting it and felt that all though the food was great, I was wanting what my "Mind's Eye" had selected. My wife, on the other hand, loved the twists and raved about it the rest of the evening. Did I mention she is Italian? 4. We ordered coffee and split a desert. They hit it out of the park. The coffee was fantastic and the desert was perfect for two people and was the perfect ending to a great experience.
(4)Jeff N.
1) Louisville being a "foodie" kind of town, people here will eat toasted gravel on tree bark and rave about it. 2) Nobody wants to cook at home anymore. 3) Notice the spelling of the commenters here and decide from there if they really know what they're talking about. DiFabio's makes their own sauces but they do not make their own pasta. How 'bout that in an Italian restaurant? Prices are bit inflated. Service is great. All menu items a la carte so two people are going to end up w/ a bil somewhere in the range of $40 minimum, $55 mid-range and possibly up to $70. The chains are about as good. So decide how much you want to pay for Italian and then make your restaurant decision from there.
(2)Candi B.
Everything I had was delicious. I read a review in the Courier Journal and then had to try it out. They lived up to the review!!
(5)Jeanne L.
We were visiting Ft Knox and were looking for some good Italian, reasonably priced and relaxing restaruant. Read the reviews. We ended up with the same waiter as in a review. My chicken Marsala was beyond words. I will probably never find another place that makes it the same way. My fiance's filet was consumed entirely in a blink of an eye. Our dessert presentation of tiramisu was fabulous. Our waiter suggested a lovely wine that went well with our meal. We will definitely return if we are back in the area.
(4)Hannah L.
Overall a solid dinner with no complaints - pasta was well cooked and portioned appropriately, and it was nice that salad and bread sticks were included. The service was attentive, but the decor could definitely stand to be updated.Would be a great standby takeout option.
(4)Christina S.
What an enjoyable date night! Sunday night on the patio with 1/2 price appetizers and wine and beer specials. Justin made our experience perfect with knowledgable and courteous service. We loved the goat cheese appetizer, and the pesto sauce is my favorite!
(5)Joel K.
I need your undivided attention because I am going to tell you a short story. Last weekend I got together with a couple of my friends and decided that we needed a weekend getaway from work. The place we picked was the Louisville, KY area as the best place to kick back and "recharge our batteries". We stayed at the HORSESHOE CASINO in the nearby town in ELIZABETH, INDIANA. The reason why we picked this place over a plain hotel was because we would be able to have access to restaurants and entertainment almost any time of the day. This HORSESHOE CASINO was one of the best places that I have every stayed. The entire hotel was spotless. Our rooms were amazingly large. We stayed on the 5th floor which gave us a panoramic view of the area. We found the casino staff bending over backwards to make our stay a memorable one. At the casino, the restaurants were top-shelf because of the food and staff who attended to our every need as if we were great friends. Pricing for the food and hotel were reasonable. We did find ourselves venturing out to explore the area. We went to the COME BACK INN, Jeffersonville, IN and had a wonderful time with great food and great conversation with the employees. The food was great and prices very reasonable. If I were a local, this would be a regular stop for me. Next, we went to DIFABIO'S CASAPELA located in Louisville, KY which was another great place for us to dine. What really surprised us was during the meal, the chef/owner came to our table to make sure that the food and the service was flawless. The food was superb and the service impeccable and the prices were extremely reasonable. An unexpected bonus to our stay was a large car show next to the river walk area and a festival downtown! MAYBE, I MIGHT JUST MOVE THERE!!
(5)Nathan Y.
Fantastic service, food, atmosphere... this place is great! It didn't seem to be a busy night when I was dining, and we were seated right away. I ordered the Veal Parmigiana; absolutely wonderful. It's hard to find a decently priced Italian restaurant that will still serve veal, but they have it, and boy is it good. The house wine for the evening was a Merlot/Cabernet/Shiraz that perfectly complimented the red sauce that came with my entree and pasta. In all honesty, I would choose this place over it's swanky neighbors, Volare, Varanese, The Rover... I would definitely return for a delicious home-cooked Italian meal. As a concierge at The Brown downtown, I will most certainly be sending our guests their way!
(5)Jamie C.
My favorite Italian in all of Louisville. It's a great mom and pop owned place and they concentrate on making fine dishes and making the customer feel welcome. I've always had superb service which always makes me go back, but also the food is just exquisite. They do not have a large menu which is awesome, because it means that everything on it is awesome. The peppercorn filet is a must as well as the vodka sauce you can get on entrees. Support this place!
(5)Shal V.
My friend from the UK would always state sardonically that Guinness signs on green walls do not make a bar an Irish Pub. Likewise, an Italian flag fluttering outside the door does not necessarily equate to good Italian food. Often smaller Italian restaurants in this country have similar menus (Lasagna, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pizza, Garlic Bread) with most dishes usually topped with a mountain of cheese that will probably have you reaching for a bottle of laxatives the next day. The menu does not do justice to a cuisine that is so rich, flavorful and varied. I have to admit I have yet to find a good Italian restaurant in this town. One evening my wife and I decided to go to Difabio's for dinner. It was a lovely night so we sat outside. The service was a wee bit sluggish initially (server was nowhere to be seen after we sat down, which resulted in us skipping the appetizer and going straight for the entrees) but improved considerably as the night wore on. I got the chicken piccata (mushroom and capers in a lemony white wine sauce served with angel hair pasta) and my wife got pasta with meatballs. The menu is not extensive but that is not a selling point for me as long as the dishes on offer are exemplary. However, both of our dishes were a bit underwhelming. They weren't bad but not memorable. I want to try some of the other items on the menu and I don't believe in writing a restaurant off based on one experience unless the service and food were egregious. But I don't think I'll be rushing there. The standard entrees like lasagna and spaghetti are definitely pricier than what you'd find at Mom and Pop places, and the taste isn't so unique or spectacular to warrant paying the extra dollars.
(3)Rachel F.
The service was great. Food pretty decent. Not a bad wait and decently priced. We pretty much all had your typical pasta dishes with a couple salads around the table. Again, super impressed with the waitress, the quick seating and her attention without being in our faces - even though we were sitting by the kitchen. Even on a trolley hop Friday night - how we ended up there in the first place. The food was all good - just not anything that stood out to me as worth seeking out. I'd go back, but I wouldn't suggest it as far as Frankfort Ave goes.
(3)Jennie D.
My husband and I are new to the Louisville area and we are all about finding the restaurants that are off the beaten path. While this is in a GREAT location you can definitley be sure your not going to find your typical "chain" restaurant. We sat on their open air front porch and very much enjoyed being able to people watch. We started with escargo and baked goat cheese--both were AWESOME!! Followed by their house salad, very tasty! I ordered the chicken parm and hubby had the chicken marsala. My chicken parm was VERY spicy to the point that I had to trade entrees with my husband. He really likes spicy food so it was good for him. And I was very pleased with the chicken marsala. The service was top notch--made conversation without intruding. The manager even came by and checked in with us. The reason for 4 stars was due to the menu not mentioning just how spicy the chicken parm was nor did the server mention this. The other reason was the bread plate on the table was dirty and had to be replaced, which they did immediately. Nothing that would stop us from going back for some made from scratch Italian food made with love!! :) I definitely say TRY IT!!
(4)Rob D.
I just finished eating carry-out from Difabio's, which marks our second visit to this restaurant. We've ordered a handful of dishes and appetizers, and to be blunt, none of it was good. I wouldn't consider myself a food snob, and I'm generally not even that critical when it comes to Italian fare. The seasoning and flavor from dish to dish varies from lacking to just not good. Even something as basic as marinara sauce was not good, and for an Italian restaurant to not do a good job at something as basic as marinara sauce is a little puzzling.
(2)Lindsay B.
Family-Style Italian. That is the theme they're going for at DiFabio's, and that is definitely the theme they have achieved. In stark contrast to the two additional Italian restaurants local to Frankfort Avenue, DiFabio's doesn't boast glamour or bravado, but instead focuses on serving up outstanding authentic home-style Italian cuisine in a casual, friendly, unpretentious atmosphere. (Come dressed to the nines or in your post-game gear; in either case, you are a welcome guest at DiFabio's Casapela). The service is always excellent! In fact, it is not unusual to have your dinner brought to the table by one of the owners or chefs. The food, like the atmosphere, is comfortably unpretentious, and simultaneously DELECTABLE! Every section of the menu is worthy of note ... and taste, for that matter. My favorite Italian restaurant in Louisville.
(5)Kellyo O.
Meh. Hubby and I love the owner (met one night at the restaurant) but the food is nothing great. Pretty plain actually. The waiter recommended the special so we went with that. And we split it which was an extra charge. I asked them not to split the plate and not charge us but we were told they had to. So stupid. So $5 to dirty an extra dish? whatever. The rating is solely on the food taste though. I just know there has to be good Italian around here somewhere.
(2)Sarah C.
I have visited here once before....a long time ago and was not impressed. I didn't think I would be back here for a second go just because I usually do not gravitate towards italian restaurants and def not one that I didn't love on the first try. I am SO glad I gave it another shot. My friend wanted to go their for her birthday dinner and so I obliged her request. We were there on a Sunday and they have happy hour on Sundays! First big win of the evening! Half price apps, house wines, and specials on wells and domestic beers (i think that concludes the specials). Of course we imbibed. :) We started with a goat cheese and marina dip of sorts that was served with some pretty tasty pita type chips. Yummy all the way if you love goat cheese and marina! I decided to have some cheese ravioli with pesto sauce and instead of a meat I added veggies. So glad I did that! The ravioli were so delicious and the pesto was perfect! I loved the added texture and flavors of the veggies (zucchini and yellow squash). The birthday girl went with the chicken piccata and devoured it! The size of the capers were unbelievable. And good...I know because I tasted one for myself. I am already planning a return visit. Some things deserve second tries...that's my lesson from this particular meal.
(4)Krista M.
My boyfriend brought me here on valentines day, I was confused at first. I have a gluten allergy, before I was diagnosed with it I loved Italian food. However, with a gluten allergy the last place you want to eat at is an Italian restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised though! My boyfriend did his homework. Their menu is gluten-free friendly and the staff was knowledgeable about my needs. The chef came to my table to discuss options, stopped by after my food was delivered to check on how it tasted, and had genuinely nice/caring conversations with us. Not only was the service wonderful but so was their food. It is hard to find restaurants who provide delicious gluten-free noodles and they definitely delivered. Not only was my meal delicious but so was my boyfriends. We both couldn't stop raving about their food and service after we left. Our overall experience was one for the books and I am so happy that we spent our Valentines Day at DiFabio's. We can't wait to go back!
(5)Diane R.
The food and drinks were good but was like something I could make at home. The appetizer was a brie like cheese with the strawberry glaze and tasted more like a desert but was very good. The service was great.
(4)Marissa F.
Best Italian Margaritas in town! Reasonable prices, great food. Sunday Happy Hour!
(4)Sandy K.
Went on Sunday when it's 1/2 price all day on house wine, well drinks and appetizers. The calamari was tender but not much flavor unless using the sauces. The Ahi tuna entree was fabulous ordering medium rare. Also the salmon on special entree with vodka sauce great. I just came back from Miami S. Beach and thought I had the best Tiramasu there! Wrong!! It's here. When you cut a slice, the booze comes oozing out the bottom. Simply fabulous and even better then The Rivue downtown at top of Galt House ( if I'm allowed to say!) Cannoli's stuffed with cherry chocolate and ricotta melt in your mouth. Our waiter Justin was great. We were first ones to enter and 2nd to last to leave so Sunday best value AND service!!
(4)Michele B.
This is a difficult review because I really want them to succeed. I've been here a few times and also gotten carry out. Staff very friendly. This poor place has the potential to be really good, but just keeps missing the mark ever so slightly. Not good considering the high caliber other Italian restaurants that are a stones throw away that hit the mark everytime (Volare and Porcini). It has never been busy when my husband I have gone. We have sat alone or with just another couple in the dining room many times. A little uncomfortable. Almost feels like you are in someones basement, no music, no other noise, just the occasional bustling of the kitchen. The food is actually pretty good, and has gotten better since our first few visits. Portions are large. Prices are reasonable as well. The whole entrance to the restaurant needs to be reworked. It just doesn't feel inviting, but more like you are trespassing onto someones' front porch. Not quite sure how to accomplish this since it is an old house, but I'm sure something could be done to open it up. Carryout one time took forever, and it wasn't busy. Part of order was missed, but caught by staff prior to leaving, and then the credit card machine wouldn't work. I think it may have been operator error since someone came out of the kitchen and was able to get it to work. So, I know there is a magic bullet in there somewhere, just not sure if they'll find it before the competition gets the best of them. Despite the 2 star review, go on and give it a try. Like I said, the food is pretty good and it is an interesting experience.
(2)Jason R.
This is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Louisville. It helps that it's close to home but their Gluten Free pasta is always cooked to perfection and their vodka sauce with sausage is tremendous. Last time I walked in they recognized me right away too, that's always a nice feeling. I've brought my family there when they visited L'ville and they all loved it too, coming from a family who grew up on Italian food...that says a lot. I'm making myself crave it just typing it right now! Maybe they can make it for breakfast for me...
(5)Jason M.
Been meaning to hit this place again, and I'm glad I did! Great service and excellent food. I love small places like this, and the owners are a great couple who aim to please their customers. The cozy atmosphere has no stuffiness to it, nor does it have overly loud or ill-chosen music. Their lasagna and chicken piccata are marvelous. I cannot wait to go back and try more!
(4)Joyce L.
Strongly advise to pass this one up. Many restauranteurs care a lot, some care somewhat, but these owners don't care- Not about their customers or quality of the food they serve. I suspect they'll be out of business soon. We were warned and gave it a shot anyway. Bad attitudes towards clientele in all areas. Food was under cooked and cold. No grace in the environment. Bad bad bad.
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