This restaurant is a hidden gem. The servings are huge, price is reasonable, and staff is always friendly. As expected, based on the price of the food, you won't be getting gourmet levels of italian food, the decor is a little dated, and the building is starting to show its age. However, that being said, it has a great "grandma's cooking" vibe.
(4)
Marit S.
We went to Ferrari's for a family celebration. When we walked in, it was very promising. It was cozy and had a pretty good vibe--but that's as far as the good went with me. Service was "meh." Food was "meh." And to top it all off, it was way overpriced for what we got. Yes the portions were big, I get that. But, it was definitely quantity over quality. While i am not a fan of chains and would rather support a mom and pop local restaurant, I'd rather have gone to Buca di Peppo, paid less and had better quality food.
(2)
Wayne P.
Nice little Italian restaurant. We had excellent service and the food was great.
(4)
Vernon A.
My relatives in Cincinnati decided to hold a party at this restaurant. It is a cute restaurant with very friendly and attentive service. It is an easy place to bring a bunch of people and relax. Now, if they just served good food - but they do not. This is like one of those places Gordon Ramsey tries to fix. Clearly something amiss in the kitchen. We were super hungry and we stuffed ourselves but from the appetizers through entree, at the very best I would say mediocre. I would not go back to this one. Plenty of good places in Cincinnati area to eat, this place not one.
(2)
Jack K.
I absolutely love this place. Very relaxed atmosphere and the food is excellent. The meals are traditional Italian with a few more wild things thrown in but mostly the standards. The house lasagna is fantastic as well as the veal or chicken piccata.
(5)
Dan J.
Ferrari's has seen a drastic change. I remember going there several years ago and being amazed with the wildly creative assortment of breads the waitress brought out. My entree was great and the huge salads we shared were great. The bakery in the lobby was fantastic My most recent visit was something I couldn't help but be less enthusiastic about. The decor is still nice and extremely warm on the inside, but something deeper has changed. The bread was okay, but nothing that wowed me like previous visits. My entree was something I could've skipped altogether. Fortunately the salads were still great and in the end I would still return. Unfortunately the charm of Ferrari's has faded a little.
(3)
Aristotle H.
Nice family joint tucked away from the usual cincinnati grind. Food was ok, the portions are literally enough for a family of 4. Cannolis are great. Prompt service, nice atmosphere. Plenty of parking. A-
(4)
Alan R.
Coming from Chicago, I have very high standard for Italian. We went to Ferrari's on a hot night so I wasn't in the mood for anything too heavy. My wife said they were know for their salads. That's what I went with. It was good and satisfying, but nothing too memorable. My wife had a wedding shower her five years ago. I went to the Reds game that day instead, so I didn't get to taste anything else then either. They have a really nice bakery in the front. I would like to go back and order something more in line with traditional Italian.
(3)
Jen H.
I ate here last night with 2 other couples and this was the first time we've been here. We bought a Living Social a few weeks back and decided to use it when we were on this triple date. One other couple had one as well so I called before to make sure it was OK to use it since this was our first time and wasn't sure. It says one per table, but I thought they might make an exception since we're first-timers and so were the other couples! Sure enough, the lady on the phone said it wouldn't be an issue. So, we went! Our server was slow and wasn't very attentive. I had the chicken parm and my boyfriend had the lasagna. Both were good...a little pricey. our server never asked if we wanted another round of drinks or anything! Fast forward to the checks....we turned in our living social deal and so did the other couple. The server came back and said they couldn't do it. I told her, oh, well I called before to make sure it was OK and I was told it was not a big deal. The server gave me attitude and said there was nothing she could do. So I asked to speak with a manager. It took the manager over 5 minutes to get to our table. She came over and was very rude and said, "i hear you have 2 living socials...well you can't use both." I told her I called up here and was told I could use the deals. She was so rude and condescending - basically, there was nothing she could do. No apology...NOTHING! Just a very bad attitude. Not what I'd expect from a little family-run restaurant. She doesn't belong in customer service. So then we were faced with the awkward conversation with our friends of who's deal would get to get used. We shouldn't have been put in that situation. If she wanted us to return to the restaurant, she would've let us use the coupons like we were told we could. Why is it our fault that we were misinformed? THEN - 5 minutes later, there was an issue with a table behind us with an elderly couple and the same manager rushed right over and offered to pick up their drinks and dessert! Are you serious? She couldn't offer to give us a future free appetizer coupon or something or buy us a dessert or a round of drinks since she wasn't going to give in and let us use our deals. I was appalled! Then we were exiting the building and the same manager was standing there, saw us and didn't mention ONE word about, please come back, sorry for your trouble earlier, etc etc. NOTHING. Needless to say, we won't be back to Ferrari's. Such a shame too - cute place. I've never been treated like that in my entire life. Anyway, a genuine apology would've been nice. Just appalling.
(1)
Christoffer M.
Back when I ran cross country, our entire team came here for a carbo loading fest before a race. We had a competition between tables to see who could eat the most, taking advantage of the gargantuan family-style bowls, like the traditional and zesty marinara, or the four-cheese penne (an unwise choice before a race). All the while, we got whatever we ordered quickly so that we could plow through bowl after bowl and prove our supremacy over our fellow competitors. But I don't think any of us triumphed on the course the next morning. I cannot fault the food for that, either for sustenance or deliciousness. But I can fault it for being a tad heavy, and the amount of it that probably remained in my digestive tract surely added seconds if not minutes to my time. Anyway, it was a great place to get a lot of food, and the event flowed smoothly because they are very experienced in handling large groups, even large groups of ravenous runners.
(4)
E R.
My husband and I ate here a couple of weeks ago and it was fantastic. The house wine - the Best , Service & Food - so great. I highly recommend and will definitely go back.
(5)
Michael D.
Not bad...decent/average Italian place, with all of the usual suspects on the menu.
(2)
Isabel Y.
Ferrari's has sentimental value in my mind, but other than that, I don't think it's "best-kept" anything. The food is okay, portions are too large, and service is meh. Cute location though, tucked away in Madeira. Great for a Friday night date though to just chill out over a glass of wine and some food/dessert. Definitely check it out if you live close, but any further than 15 min, I'm sure you could find someplace better.
(3)
Artie K.
Totally great. Try the tiramisu, you won't regret it.
(4)
Robert M.
While the food is good, the bread awesome. The price for what you get is high. Nice Bakery in front.
(3)
Donald B.
We visited with a groupon certificate. Seating Friday night at 6 pm: prompt. Service: pleasant/personal/very nice. The building was built 1st for a SouthWest restaurant: you can see. Lots of family (ala Italian) pictures: please straighten them. Bread: good, we preferred the roasted garlic: offer choices. House cabernet: grade C. Ceasar salad: large, good greens. grade B. They could see from our partially comsumed plates that we were not wild about our choices. Crab-stuffed sole (C): edible, not bad but lacking taste/seasoning: my wife suggested in response to their inquiry about our food that it needed a white wine sauce. Linguini Alfredo w/shrimp (B): the pan seared shrimp were cooked appropriately and tasty; the alfredo was acceptable. I was amused that a penne found its way in with the linguini. Their chef needs some consultation or a few classes or needs to read some recipe books. We'd only return if friends were forcing us to go there. By the way, we do not like the golive arden mentioned by another reviewer or that Buca place and we'd pick Ferrari's anytime over them.
(3)
Kate M.
This was my second time here and it certainly didn't disappoint! Bread- garlic and olive, asiago, cheese and peppers, tomato and cheese focaccia. I only had a little bite of the pepper bread and asiago bread but both were amazing! Fried Mozzarella- amazing!!! Fresh mozz, crispy crust, topped with fresh grated Parmesan and parsley. Gooey and sooo good, absolute best I've ever had. Chicken Marsala- mashed potatoes bland and gluey, not very good. Breast was unbreaded (yay!) and moist but under seasoned. The sauce was thick like gravy and very good! The mushrooms were perfectly cooked. Lasagna- really tasty. Cheesy, thick, and had an incredible marinara. Tiramisu- Best I've ever had! Not overly soaked like others I've had. A perfect blend of flavors on a wonderfully fluffy cake! Service- Our server was prompt, friendly, and attentive! The food came out hot and fast. Overall very good, the only reason it's not a 5 is the bland chicken and potatoes. Prices were decent for the size of the portions. A few chains I've been to charge more for less. Definitely a must try in Cincinnati!
(4)
Steve A.
Always enjoy dinner at Ferrari's. Great food, wine and service. Love this place!!
(4)
Ethan P.
I'm not a big fan of Italian food but I like this restaurant. Good atmosphere inside. The meatball sub was one of the best I have had. The menu selection looked good. It's not like the typical Italian restaurant that just serves a big pile of noodles. The put some thought into their menu and have a very good selection.
(5)
Charles S.
Food is just ok....but expensive for what it is. My real issue with this place is the service. We ordered a bottle of wine and when the server brought it out she open and poured it. Never showed us the bottle to confirm it is what we wanted, and never offered a taste. In addition the server had to ask what my mother wanted to drink 3 times...even though it was written down. Just didn't feel like the service one would expect when sitting down to a nice dinner. It was more like what you would get in a pizza joint.
(3)
Beth M.
My husband and I had our wedding reception at Ferrari's. We were so impressed with the food and the staff! There were about 70 people in our party, and there was never an empty glass. The owner and managers were so helpful and flexible in the planning process. They were able to prepare separate plates for family members with food allergies and even had their servers cut and serve the wedding cake! And the food - my goodness! The room was flooded with compliments from happy guests. Not your typical wedding food! We had Ferrari salads for everyone and two entrees (family style): Chicken Parmesan over pasta and Pork Marsala over mashed potatoes. Both options were a huge hit. The house wines were great, too. A lot of the guests said they will definitely be back in the future, and I know that my family will continue to frequent Ferrari's for decades. I have always loved their food, but after this experience, I have a new appreciation for the restaurant as a whole. Thanks Ferrari's!
(5)
Steve A.
I probably didn't have a typical experience here, but I did eat the food, so we'll go with that. We had a pretty large party for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We had 2 waitresses dedicated to our party. They were very attentive and quick. I'm assuming their gratuity was already included due to the size of our party, so it was good to know they weren't just doing the bare minimum knowing they already had a big tip coming. The beer selection seemed pretty good for a little family-owned Italian restaurant. But I have to say the prices were a bit high in my opinion. It kept me from drinking as much as I normally would have (which hey, maybe that's their intention all along). The food was just okay. If I weren't so local-minded, I would probably mention that I've had better Italian food at a common chain that rhymes with golive arden. But that would be very unpretentious of me, so I digress. The chicken marsalis was mediocre. The mashed potatoes seemed to be pretty popular in our group but didn't wow me. The best part of the meal was the Lasagna. While it was good, again, I've had tastier. I really hate to give this place only 2 stars, but the simple fact is I have no desire to go back. Plus the Yelp definition of 2 stars is "Meh, I've experienced better" which couldn't be more accurate.
(2)
Ann M.
PROS: Wide variety of food Tastes great! Fresh ingredients Friendly and attentive staff CONS: Complimentary bread served cold Pricey Several "Americanized" dishes (BBQ Chicken pizza...)
(4)
Sandra F.
Feel very welcome walking in this small restaurant. Great experience from beginning to end. I had the artichoke totellini and it was delicious!
(4)
Monica W.
What a cute little Italian restaurant! I love the food here! I always order the spaghetti with meatballs or the artichoke tortellini. They need to do a little updating on the decor and I absolutely hate the light blue polo shirts that they make the staff wear! It makes them look like McDonald's workers! They should wear black long sleeve button down shirts.
(4)
Angela H.
"Cincinnati's best kept secret," according to the website. I'm not so sure if it's the best kept secret, but it is an Italian joint that really only folks who live in the Madeira area seem to know about. Ferrari's is authentic Italian, this isn't the Olive Garden by any means. Portions on most menu items come in two sizes, single servings are more than enough to serve two while grande portions could easily feed a family of four. We started with the toasted vegetable ravioli, which was delicious (lots of peppers though, so watch out). From there, we chose the Penne Formagio...basically penne pasta with every Italian cheese imaginable, I was in dairy heaven. Dessert was outstanding, we sampled Ferrari's Bakery's gelatto and loved it. It wasn't at all crowded when we went but this is a favorite among locals so make a reservation if you're thinking of heading there on weekend night.
(4)
Emily N.
Try the pizza, its amazing!
(4)
Haejin K.
This was my second visit at this restaurant, again using Groupon. We went in for lunch. To use groupon, we had to order sandwiches and soup or salad. The waitress was kind at first until I asked her if we could have different bread instead of rye bread which caraway seeds were not adapted well to our taste buds. Last time, we had a basket of assorted bread. This time it was not. I didn't want to ask anymore since the waitress seemed quite annoyed already. With the groupon (half sandwich and half salad or soup), there was only one kind of salad you could get without paying extra. That is plain salad with greens, nothing fancy. We had Turkey Focaccia panini (recommended by the waitress, very good), lasagna (delicious), salmon bit sandwich (i liked it) and two slices of cake, oreo mousse and cheese. Since the bakery where you can purchase bread and dessert is not part of the restaurant, you have to go to the bakery to meet up with the waitress and tell the waitress what you want. Then she brings the desserts to your table. I loved their paninis and can't wait till next time to try out more from their menu. Since the server already showed annoyed, i try to be super friendly and accommodating. She seemed better towards to our lunch.
(4)
Stephanie B.
I was in Madeira with friends recently, and we found our way to Ferrari's because we didn't want to do the 1-hr wait for dinner down the road. The food here was actually very good. I tried their garlic bread and a Caesar salad with calamari. The calamari was deliciously sweet and its texture was soft, not chewy- a sign of calamari cooked properly!! My only complaint is that it took them forever to get the food to our table. Good thing we ordered the garlic bread or I know we would've become hangry! Everything felt slightly overpriced, and the atmosphere was nothing special. All together, I wouldn't ever make this a destination restaurant, but I suppose it's okay if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)
Shon M.
Wonderful restaurant! The outdoor patio seating is fabulous! Probably one of the best outdoor seating areas in the Greater Cincinnati area! Large menu with so many choices. We were a group of 5 and everything we ordered was exceptional. The portions are huge too! I would highly recommend to anyone!!
(5)
Michele G.
A really good family style Italian restaurant that is not a chain! Located in a quaint little area the ambiance is nice and the food is solid too. One of the best dishes by far was the tortellini florentine..eggplant parm was ok , not bad just not the best I have had but everything else was great. The bread is awesome! I would definitely recommend giving it a try , especially if you like locally owned places.
(4)
David B.
It's a hot day and we just a had a most lovely lunch in the shaded, beautiful back patio. The soups (classic minestrone and a creamy chicken and artichoke) were delicious and perfectly seasoned. The flat bread with sausage, grilled peppers and onions, and melted cheeses was superb. Crispy crust and chewy textures. The house salads were lovely. Some wine, mood music, and Patty's attentive coddling ... heaven.
(5)
Lorinn W.
I'm not sure how you'd find Ferrari's without knowing its hidden position. I hope you find it. It's worth the search. They have a great salad--- the Ferrari salad. Their outdoor seating is lovely. Their bread is so good. Hard not to keep eating it before our meal arrives! Many nice, Italian menu options. Take out service is easy and very good once home. Oh---and the have a bakery!!
(4)
William K.
Worst dining experience I've had since... the last time I ate here. To keep it short and sweet... 7:30 reservations. Seated at 8:20. Order taken at 8:31. Apps delivered at 8:57. Entrees came at 9:31... a full two hours after our reservations. No apology from a manager. No offers to comp anything... and oh yeah... WAY over charged. Not charged the prices on the menu. I would have complained but I feared it would take another two hours to get a response. My check was more than TWENTY dollars more than the menu indicated it would be! This is theft. And the "special" I ordered? Weak. Obviously a reheated frozen product. Do not eat here. It is a waste of your money. For some reason a review I posted about this place a couple years ago got deleted. I can only hope that anyone paying attention to what I have to offer sees this before it gets thrown out so that they don't waste their time or money. This place is worth neither.
(1)
Tabitha W.
A Groupon brought us here, and I'm thinking our first experience is going to prompt a repeat visit. Since moving to Cincinnati almost a year ago, I don't think we've tried many Italian restaurant. Tucked away off the street, you'll find this local Italian place with a fairly cute interior and a bit of rustic charm. Some areas of the restaurant are a little more "rustic" than others (plaster on the upper walls in back dining area) but overall a positive atmosphere. No complaints about the service; everything moved along well. We started with the Stuffed Mushroom Patricia and Toasted Ravioli. The second appetizer features vegetable ravioli, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it were just cheese. We ended up sharing the Tortellini Florentine for our entree. All of the food seemed really fresh and of good quality. The lunch prices aren't bad, but it does look like most things get more pricey for dinner. They also had some tempting offerings up front in their bakery area that we had to force ourselves to bypass this time around. There is a large sign from the street for the restaurant, but we still weren't sure where it was when we pulled in. Another sign prompting drivers to drive down a little further might be more useful.
(4)
Kevin P.
Reservations were for 730pm they seated us at 745pm which wasn't to bad becasue they were busy when we arrived. However the service was horrible. The waitress didn't come around in a timely fashion to check on us. The food I must admit was excellent. I will definitely be back because it was my first time there... Hopefully my next visit will be a better one....
(1)
Amanda T.
I went here for dinner one night and it was good. It has a large parking lot and is dimly lit. There is a fireplace, but it is a bit chilly if you're not sitting right next to it. I kept my jacket on during dinner. There are several smaller rooms, so it feels very intimate. You do sit pretty closely though to the tables next to you. We got seated right away, but we also got there before the dinner rush. The food was good. I had the vegetable pizza. This is not your normal vegetarian pizza, which I was not expecting. It was basically a plate of vegetables with a thin crust underneath. I think if I had ordered a margherita pizza I would have enjoyed the pizza more. The vegetable pizza though was strange and I ended up eating the vegetables with a fork since it was so heavy the pizza broke if I tried to pick it up. I did appreciate that the vegetables were fresh though. I wish I liked my entree better. It is a cute restaurant. The bakery items looked delicious, but I didn't get to try any that night. I will give Ferrari's another chance since I love Italian and think I just maybe didn't order one of their better dishes. Unfortunately, one of the reasons I did that was because their food is on the more expensive side. I would recommend making reservations if you are planning on going around a meal time. Hope I enjoy my next experience at Ferrari's more! My last experience was not bad, but it wasn't outstanding.
(3)
Sue L.
We love to sit outside on the patio on the nice weather. Bread is homemade and really good. Pasta is always good. We like the antipasta salad. Wine list is good and reasonably priced.
(4)
Lisa S.
The food is delicious, but lately it's become a question of how much we're willing to suffer. One afternoon we went and despite the fact that the place was pretty empty, service was slow. We were seated next to a large, loud party and could barely hear each other over them. The most recent time we tried to go we barely made it in the door. Knowing that it might be busy, we called ahead and were told that since it was still early (around 5:40) that "as long as you get here by 6 we can seat you". We rushed to get there on time and then stood patiently while the three hostesses ignored us for a few minutes. When one of them finally deigned to look at us, we asked for a table for two and were told the entire restaurant was booked full until 7:45. The restaurant was fairly empty from what we could see. When we explained that we had called 15 minutes before and been told otherwise, the hostess turned her back to us and resumed talking to her friends. After a few moments of stunned silence, we turned and left. In general, service is slow and the staff is standoffish. It's always a battle to get a seat and never feels worth it.
(2)
Mark S.
My wife and I enjoyed dinner here last night. I understand the restaurant has been around 17yrs! Great little spot, decor a little worn but a neat little place. Good food and an option with most dishes for a small or large portion which is nice if you want enough left overs for a second meal. Reasonable prices, good service at a relaxed pace. I am sure we will return.
(4)
Sam L.
We had a groupon here, and were impressed by the food and the waitstaff. It is a little hard to find, but the food is all home made and so yummy!
(4)
Richard W.
A local institution that has been in business for at least 19 years so they are doing a lot right! In addition to the bar & restaurant, there is also a full bakery where all of the wonderful Italian bread and desserts are made. Even though they can seat a lot of patrons for dinner, the atmosphere feels quaint and intimate due to the multiple smaller rooms. I've heard the outdoor patio is a fantastic place to hang out when the weather is good...but I've never had the opportunity to sit out there yet. This is the type of Italian restaurant that serves large, family-style portions. It's good for groups and/or people who like to share. I love this as I can never decide on just one item and I get to sample off multiple plates. I like the spinach and artichoke tortellini pasta dish for my main course. I pretend that having spinich stuffed into the pasta overides the gooey cheese next to it...so its a "healthy" choice. The scallops added to our Ceaser Salad were huge and seared perfectly. We make it a point to leave enough room in our stomachs for one of the homemade desserts and coffee. which means end up taking home food for a nice lunch the next day.
(5)
John Henry E.
very delicious, came for lunch. bread was very tasty.
(4)
Gincinnati ..
The food is good! My sisters always orders pasta with meat sauce and it's always delicious. The servers are cheerful. The ambiance is rustic and cozy with fireplaces and opera music. I think it's a great for date nights!
(3)
Frank E.
My new favorite Italian restaurant. Food was 4 star. When is the last time you got 9 plump scallops with your pasta? Orange roughy was excellent. Salads were fresh, cold and delicious. Great experience!
(4)
Cathy S.
The reason I'm giving it 1 star is because we were so turned off by the time we got our food, it was too late for redemption. The staff looks like an average age of 16. They are a bad representation for the restaurant. We had 7:45 reservations and didn't get seated for over half an hour. While we waited for our table, 4, yes FOUR, teenagers stood at the hostess stand giggling. They never updated us, or anyone else, on their wait time. Once we were finally seated we sat for 10 minutes before we were even approached by our waitress. Then it took about 10 more before we got our drinks. We got our basket of "free" bread AFTER we ordered garlic bread. Come on! My shrimp scampi was so spicy, I could barely eat it. Nothing about spicy was mentioned on the menu. When the girl brough us our dinners, I tried to hand her my salad plate. She looked at it and walked away. I'm sad because I thought it would be a fun place to go. Never again. Oh, I almost forgot. It was about 8 degrees outside and we had to park a block away. Fun times.
(1)
Amy C.
Food: 5 stars Service: 2 stars Atmosphere/ambience: 2 stars My husband & I went here for Christmas Eve, had reservations, & expected it to be busy. We've also been here a few other times without issue & the food has always been great as it was on this holiday evening. With just two of us, we were wedged at a tiny table stuck between two large-party tables, who of course had their own loud conversations, drowning out our conversation from each other. We were seated on folding chairs (didn't know they used those at a nice restaurant) & our table was directly below a grime-caked vent blowing cold air & chunks of dust onto our table. We had passed two tables that seated only two each, so my husband asked if we could be moved, but we were told those tables weren't available. However, they would turn the vent off (not sure if that did or didn't happen.) If it wasn't a holiday & we wouldn't have been able to get in elsewhere for a comparable meal, we would have left. Honestly, it would have been much more relaxing to carry out the food & eat it at home, but we had gotten dressed up for a stress-free holiday night out after dealing with an on-going family crisis involving a close relative in the hospital for weeks. I won't call in reservations here again for a nice sit down dinner where my husband & I can't talk & instead have dirt blown on us & our food. Addditionly, I let management know of our disappointing evening via the reservations site and never heard a peep. A shame since the food is good.
(3)
Steve R.
Absolutely wonderful experience! Food was delicious, service was outstanding, and the atmosphere was quaint and casual. First time visit with friends and family, and intend to return in the near future. Definitely a hidden gem in Cincinnati.
(5)
Travis P.
Absolutely unbelievably food. I have always been a fan of the Italian restaurant that bakes bread and pastries in house, they usually have great tasting food and Ferrari's proved me right. I went here with my wife for lunch one day and I ordered the breaded fish sandwich, which was delicious. They served it with a side of a Caesar pasta salad which was really good also. My wife ordered the breaded chicken parmesan sandwich which was amazing! If you go order this sandwich! For dessert they had tiramsu on the menu which was also really good but I asked if they had any cannolis and they did! Delicious! Great place for lunch on an week day, now I have to go back for dinner.
(5)
Robert S.
Traditional Italian fare. Recently spoke with visitors from Italy who had eaten at Ferrari's. They commented on the authenticity of the food. I personally enjoyed it as well. The fresh baked breadth at is served with meals and sold is excellent. Well worth taking home a loaf. Pleasant low key atmosphere, staff could do with a little training but not a deal breaker.
(4)
David C.
Ferrari's is a bit of a mixed bag; we've eaten here a dozen times and the food is always good to (sometimes) very good, but I just cannot say say it's excellent. They do make a nice, but not great, red sauce and a good pizza (wood-fired I think), and their food is consistently fresh. Unfortunately, the harder part of rating Ferrari's is justifying their prices, and that's where the restaurant falls way short, IMO. Simply stated, the cost is quite high for relatively plain and simple (ie., peasant) Italian with no grand flourishes or standout presentations, and it's not as though the environment has anything resembling a WOW factor (although it is comfortable). It is a high-priced restaurant in an affluent area, and that's that. Decent to good onsite bakery with breads & cookies, but again, protect your wallet or purse cuz it's all pricey.... Be forewarned, Romantics: there are a lot of families eating here every night with children (not a bad thing), so do not expect a quiet romantic table (or evening) at Ferrari's, cuz it's not happening. They do have a small bar inside, and in the summer I highly recommend enjoying a shaded lunch on the beautiful patio outside. Just can't recommend dinners at Ferrari's based on their overall pricing.
(2)
Aaron A.
Spaghetti was overcooked; as mushy as Chef Boyardee. The Alfredo sauce was coagulated. Cheese pizza was lifeless and bland; bread topped with cheese. Service was good. Food was bad. Save some money and go to Olive Garden.
(1)
M B.
The food is very good, but really it's best left for takeout. Everything is so rushed inside that there's no time to enjoy your company. Also, don't let them seat you in the very back room -- it's a sauna. That said, the food really is very good and I think we'll be getting takeout from here again in the future. But I don't see us eating in anymore.
(3)
Clark R.
We love this place, we come often to introduce friends to Ferrari's. The entrees and salads are huge and delicious. Share or you'll have plenty to take home for another meal. The bread is so good. Our favorite spot to eat is on the covered patio.
(5)
Ann G.
I love the atmosphere at Ferrari's, especially in the winter when the fireplaces are blazing. After living in Cincinnati for 25 years and trying pretty much every Italian place around, we've settled on this as the best. My favorite dish is the Salmon ala pesto. I like that there are several seafood choices and vegetarian choices.
(5)
Diane C.
Have eaten here several times and the food has always been extremely disappointing, very bland, I think Chef Boyardee is better and haven't eaten that since I was a kid. Portions are large but unnecessary, would rather have less for a tasteful dish. I hope when A Tavola opens it puts them out of business, it's embarrassing that it is still open and people eat there. Do you not know good food. Awful!
(1)
Kate J.
Great Italian food. This place makes Olive Garden taste like a lean cuisine. Romantic for date nights. Great bakery attached for take home stuff. A little cramped for space, but cool decor. Good wine selection. Prices are okay and won't kill you for a nice dinner.
(4)
Jayne H.
I love this Italian restaurant it always satisfies my love of Italy. The lasagna and the house salad with some stuffed mushrooms were superb. Good jobs working hard from the staff. We were seated in a very comfy room and served by wonderful staff.
(5)
Gayle K.
Found this local eatery by happenstance and we were so glad we did. We are not locals and our GPS found it for us and always wanting to try local spots we went to our destination. On what looked to be a very busy Saturday night we were thrilled to be seated immediately. Our server came and took our drink order and offered help with any items on the menu. She brought an assortment of on site baked fresh bread. It was an assortment of four or so different varieties all of which were tasty and fresh. Our order came quickly and was hot and fresh. We had the rigatoni pasta, lasagna, margherita pizza and the pollo basillico. All dishes were plentiful and amazing! We took half of it home. We were too full to try dessert but the adjoining table had tiramisu , cheesecake and something else that looked truly amazing. On the way out we stopped by the bakery to,take a treat back to the hotel for later. We were thrilled to find a genuine local italian spot that we will recommend for others to find in the future. Yum!
(5)
Gary H.
Went there for a Saturday afternoon lunch. I had the eggplant parm, excellent dish though the pasta on the side was somewhat blah. Others in our party had the lasagna and said it was the best they ever had. The size of the dishes were huge, even with the lunch size. The smells from the bakery also have you salivating
(3)
R B.
The food here is decent standard italian fare. The bread was stale but that's not a deal breaker for me. We came here to have a nice, quiet sit down meal. However, it was unbearably hot in the section of the restaurant we were sitting in. My husband and I were both sweating profusely and our meal was not enjoyable to say the least. I normally don't sweat like that unless if I'm working out at the gym. It had to be over 80 degrees in the section we were in. It was just purely unacceptable. My husband and I ate so quickly just to get out of there. We would have normally stayed for dessert and coffee. Would consider ordering take out. On the plus side our waitress was nice and service was good.
(3)
Matthew B.
Staff was very friendly. Portions huge. I loved the taste of the sauce. Major complaint? The meatballs. Very processed looking with no taste. Maybe it is just my personal taste, but I like a meatball to look like balled up meat, not salami consistency.
(3)
Susan O.
We love the authentic Italian dishes! Can't go wrong with lasagna. I tried a seafood diavolo special. Yum! Service is prompt and friendly. Very family-friendly, come as you are environment. One suggestion - they recently made some lighting changes. Was pretty dark, now overly- bright. New light bulbs are tricky in our home, too. Hope they get it fixed.
(4)
Lauren D.
My family and I go here every year for out Christmas we dinner and it is always amazing. It's a small Italian restaurant and bakery tucked away in a corner. The service is amazing the seafood is great. As soon as you sit down you get fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce. For dinner you should definitely get what ever they have on special it's always amazing! Oh and you can't forget the cannolis they are delicious! If you want authentic Italian this is the best place to get it in cincinnati! You won't be disappointed
(5)
Dave B.
I've been to Ferrari's several times, always as a special treat for an anniversary or celebration. Hidden away behind a few nondescript buildings in the heart of Madeira, it's easy to pass if you aren't looking for the sign. (HINT: If you're coming from the Euclid Road direction, it's just past Adrian's Pharmacy and immediately on your right after you cross the railroad tracks.) The hidden location is part of the charm of this place. Originally built to be a Spanish restaurant, Ferrari's has a small-town, family-owned look and feel. On mild spring or summer nights, dinner on the patio is delightful. On colder evenings, three fireplaces and the open kitchen keep the place nice and cozy. But the real highlight is the food. Be warned: Even if you get the "small" portion, you'll get a ton of food. I had the Mama Bassano's Lasagna last night, opted for the small portion, and still took half of it home with me. Dinner begins with a basket of fresh bread from the bakery up front. There's always an assortment within, and my favorite is the pepperoni bread. The server brings a small plate of oil with a little something red in the center that I think is tomato sauce with a little something added to it. Whatever it is, it's good. I never order an appetizer because I know that between the bread and the main course, I'm going to be fighting to make room for dessert -- and you definitely want to leave room for dessert! As another reviewer mentioned, the lasagna is packed with sausage. It's also layered with cheese and fresh pasta, and it's just delicious. Even reheated the next day, it's marvelous! This visit, I tried the Alamos Malbec with dinner, while my wife had the Wilhelm Riesling. Both were adequate, which is what we were expecting, given they were among the cheaper wines on the menu. And now we come to the main reason I keep going back to Ferrari's -- the tiramisu! I honestly could eat their tiramisu every day and never get sick of it. It's just wonderful, and they serve you a generous portion, too! As another reviewer noted, the decor is in need of a fresh coat of paint and some updates here and there. The server's uniforms likewise need to be classed up a bit. Someone else suggested white shirts and black pants, and I agree that would fit well. Overall, though, Ferrari's is a gem and definitely worth the trip. Manga!
(5)
Opal K.
Cute place :) Been here many times and would probably go more if it were closer. Lots and lots of veg options. The tortellini is delicious !! Portions are generous...
(4)
Chris C.
I brought 12 ladies here (women's group) for dinner and everyone loved the food, service, and nice private room. I had called ahead and asked that the table be set up a certain way, and they did that exactly, plus gave us separate checks. All the food was wonderfully good. I have eaten here many times in the last couple of years, but always for lunch. The dinner prices seemed a little high in comparison, since usually higher dinner prices include more food or a salad of something. I will definitely be back again for lunch & dinner. I didn't have room for dessert, but I had a bite of my friends pistachio gelato & it was yummy!
(4)
Courty B.
Love dining on a cool night on the outdoor patio. Service and food has improved immensely this year. We are really enjoying 1/2 price wine nights and the salads. Very happy they are in the neighborhood!
(4)
meggan K.
No matter what you get to eat here, it is great. The service is amazing and the food is good. Servings are quite large, we ordered the small order of stuffed mushrooms and we got 9 mushrooms!! Order accordingly, the chicken marsala comes with about a pound of mashed potatoes that you could just keep eating and eating! Great place for a date or family dinner.
(5)
Rick L.
Read several reviews that said the prices are premium while the food is not. I completely agree with those reviews. We had some good gelato for dessert. Other than that, neither my wife nor I ate anything that we are interested in eating again, especially for $25 per entree. Service was not good. Ambience was not good. Overall, not good. Many, many much better places around Cincinnati to dine Italian at these prices.
(1)
Tom W.
We had a great meal here. It was definitely expensive for what it was, but it was good. With the exception of whatever that dried out mess my wife got, but they immediately replaced it with another, better, dish of her choice, no hassle, no charge. The service was excellent, and we were seated right away on a Saturday night at 6:30, even though the parking lot was almost full. There were lots of families, I wouldn't call it an intimate place, you're not going to see two dogs sucking spaghetti, but it does have an Italian charm that makes it a fun place to eat. And the bread is awesome. The small pasta plate is easily enough for two meals if you can find two to share and don;t want leftovers.
(4)
Katherine M.
We always enjoy this place - the service is good and is great for larger groups. We always end up coming at sort of "off" times, so that probably makes a huge difference, but food and drinks come out in good time. We enjoy the food a lot. Their sauce is some of my favorite, and their baked potato pizza is amazingly delicious. Most of their food is good Italian - it's not my absolute favorite, but I always enjoy the food I get.
(4)
Fred C.
The restaurant was a very cozy location and the service was EXCELLENT. Unfortunately, the food was very disappointing. It looked good, it was very fresh and it was prepared well (the veggies weren't mushy but just cooked enough) but it lacked flavor. The tilapia chowder was a really thick chowder with lots of meat and vegetables, but again - it was as if the kitchen didn't use any seasoning - specifically salt. I'd agree with some of the previous reviews, that a local chain does a better job and is much cheaper. I love going to privately owned restaurants vs chains but we won't be returning.
(2)
Andy D.
One of my favorite Italian places! I've been going to Ferrari's for years and have loved it every single time! The decor is awesome...real authentic Italian bistro feel. The bar area is really nice, and the bakery is a nice touch! The food is great! The lasagna...game over! My favorite, by far, in the entire city. They have really nice veal, and the pasta dishes are always spot on. Definitely check them out if you have not been before!
(4)
Wayne M.
I really like Ferrari's, especially the salmon blt. It is to die for! The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is perfect for a nicer lunch and dinner venue. My only complaint is that the prices are a bit steep, but if you are ok paying for quality then make this place your next Italian night out.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot 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 Waiter Service : Yes Caters : 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.
James L.
This restaurant is a hidden gem. The servings are huge, price is reasonable, and staff is always friendly. As expected, based on the price of the food, you won't be getting gourmet levels of italian food, the decor is a little dated, and the building is starting to show its age. However, that being said, it has a great "grandma's cooking" vibe.
(4)Marit S.
We went to Ferrari's for a family celebration. When we walked in, it was very promising. It was cozy and had a pretty good vibe--but that's as far as the good went with me. Service was "meh." Food was "meh." And to top it all off, it was way overpriced for what we got. Yes the portions were big, I get that. But, it was definitely quantity over quality. While i am not a fan of chains and would rather support a mom and pop local restaurant, I'd rather have gone to Buca di Peppo, paid less and had better quality food.
(2)Wayne P.
Nice little Italian restaurant. We had excellent service and the food was great.
(4)Vernon A.
My relatives in Cincinnati decided to hold a party at this restaurant. It is a cute restaurant with very friendly and attentive service. It is an easy place to bring a bunch of people and relax. Now, if they just served good food - but they do not. This is like one of those places Gordon Ramsey tries to fix. Clearly something amiss in the kitchen. We were super hungry and we stuffed ourselves but from the appetizers through entree, at the very best I would say mediocre. I would not go back to this one. Plenty of good places in Cincinnati area to eat, this place not one.
(2)Jack K.
I absolutely love this place. Very relaxed atmosphere and the food is excellent. The meals are traditional Italian with a few more wild things thrown in but mostly the standards. The house lasagna is fantastic as well as the veal or chicken piccata.
(5)Dan J.
Ferrari's has seen a drastic change. I remember going there several years ago and being amazed with the wildly creative assortment of breads the waitress brought out. My entree was great and the huge salads we shared were great. The bakery in the lobby was fantastic My most recent visit was something I couldn't help but be less enthusiastic about. The decor is still nice and extremely warm on the inside, but something deeper has changed. The bread was okay, but nothing that wowed me like previous visits. My entree was something I could've skipped altogether. Fortunately the salads were still great and in the end I would still return. Unfortunately the charm of Ferrari's has faded a little.
(3)Aristotle H.
Nice family joint tucked away from the usual cincinnati grind. Food was ok, the portions are literally enough for a family of 4. Cannolis are great. Prompt service, nice atmosphere. Plenty of parking. A-
(4)Alan R.
Coming from Chicago, I have very high standard for Italian. We went to Ferrari's on a hot night so I wasn't in the mood for anything too heavy. My wife said they were know for their salads. That's what I went with. It was good and satisfying, but nothing too memorable. My wife had a wedding shower her five years ago. I went to the Reds game that day instead, so I didn't get to taste anything else then either. They have a really nice bakery in the front. I would like to go back and order something more in line with traditional Italian.
(3)Jen H.
I ate here last night with 2 other couples and this was the first time we've been here. We bought a Living Social a few weeks back and decided to use it when we were on this triple date. One other couple had one as well so I called before to make sure it was OK to use it since this was our first time and wasn't sure. It says one per table, but I thought they might make an exception since we're first-timers and so were the other couples! Sure enough, the lady on the phone said it wouldn't be an issue. So, we went! Our server was slow and wasn't very attentive. I had the chicken parm and my boyfriend had the lasagna. Both were good...a little pricey. our server never asked if we wanted another round of drinks or anything! Fast forward to the checks....we turned in our living social deal and so did the other couple. The server came back and said they couldn't do it. I told her, oh, well I called before to make sure it was OK and I was told it was not a big deal. The server gave me attitude and said there was nothing she could do. So I asked to speak with a manager. It took the manager over 5 minutes to get to our table. She came over and was very rude and said, "i hear you have 2 living socials...well you can't use both." I told her I called up here and was told I could use the deals. She was so rude and condescending - basically, there was nothing she could do. No apology...NOTHING! Just a very bad attitude. Not what I'd expect from a little family-run restaurant. She doesn't belong in customer service. So then we were faced with the awkward conversation with our friends of who's deal would get to get used. We shouldn't have been put in that situation. If she wanted us to return to the restaurant, she would've let us use the coupons like we were told we could. Why is it our fault that we were misinformed? THEN - 5 minutes later, there was an issue with a table behind us with an elderly couple and the same manager rushed right over and offered to pick up their drinks and dessert! Are you serious? She couldn't offer to give us a future free appetizer coupon or something or buy us a dessert or a round of drinks since she wasn't going to give in and let us use our deals. I was appalled! Then we were exiting the building and the same manager was standing there, saw us and didn't mention ONE word about, please come back, sorry for your trouble earlier, etc etc. NOTHING. Needless to say, we won't be back to Ferrari's. Such a shame too - cute place. I've never been treated like that in my entire life. Anyway, a genuine apology would've been nice. Just appalling.
(1)Christoffer M.
Back when I ran cross country, our entire team came here for a carbo loading fest before a race. We had a competition between tables to see who could eat the most, taking advantage of the gargantuan family-style bowls, like the traditional and zesty marinara, or the four-cheese penne (an unwise choice before a race). All the while, we got whatever we ordered quickly so that we could plow through bowl after bowl and prove our supremacy over our fellow competitors. But I don't think any of us triumphed on the course the next morning. I cannot fault the food for that, either for sustenance or deliciousness. But I can fault it for being a tad heavy, and the amount of it that probably remained in my digestive tract surely added seconds if not minutes to my time. Anyway, it was a great place to get a lot of food, and the event flowed smoothly because they are very experienced in handling large groups, even large groups of ravenous runners.
(4)E R.
My husband and I ate here a couple of weeks ago and it was fantastic. The house wine - the Best , Service & Food - so great. I highly recommend and will definitely go back.
(5)Michael D.
Not bad...decent/average Italian place, with all of the usual suspects on the menu.
(2)Isabel Y.
Ferrari's has sentimental value in my mind, but other than that, I don't think it's "best-kept" anything. The food is okay, portions are too large, and service is meh. Cute location though, tucked away in Madeira. Great for a Friday night date though to just chill out over a glass of wine and some food/dessert. Definitely check it out if you live close, but any further than 15 min, I'm sure you could find someplace better.
(3)Artie K.
Totally great. Try the tiramisu, you won't regret it.
(4)Robert M.
While the food is good, the bread awesome. The price for what you get is high. Nice Bakery in front.
(3)Donald B.
We visited with a groupon certificate. Seating Friday night at 6 pm: prompt. Service: pleasant/personal/very nice. The building was built 1st for a SouthWest restaurant: you can see. Lots of family (ala Italian) pictures: please straighten them. Bread: good, we preferred the roasted garlic: offer choices. House cabernet: grade C. Ceasar salad: large, good greens. grade B. They could see from our partially comsumed plates that we were not wild about our choices. Crab-stuffed sole (C): edible, not bad but lacking taste/seasoning: my wife suggested in response to their inquiry about our food that it needed a white wine sauce. Linguini Alfredo w/shrimp (B): the pan seared shrimp were cooked appropriately and tasty; the alfredo was acceptable. I was amused that a penne found its way in with the linguini. Their chef needs some consultation or a few classes or needs to read some recipe books. We'd only return if friends were forcing us to go there. By the way, we do not like the golive arden mentioned by another reviewer or that Buca place and we'd pick Ferrari's anytime over them.
(3)Kate M.
This was my second time here and it certainly didn't disappoint! Bread- garlic and olive, asiago, cheese and peppers, tomato and cheese focaccia. I only had a little bite of the pepper bread and asiago bread but both were amazing! Fried Mozzarella- amazing!!! Fresh mozz, crispy crust, topped with fresh grated Parmesan and parsley. Gooey and sooo good, absolute best I've ever had. Chicken Marsala- mashed potatoes bland and gluey, not very good. Breast was unbreaded (yay!) and moist but under seasoned. The sauce was thick like gravy and very good! The mushrooms were perfectly cooked. Lasagna- really tasty. Cheesy, thick, and had an incredible marinara. Tiramisu- Best I've ever had! Not overly soaked like others I've had. A perfect blend of flavors on a wonderfully fluffy cake! Service- Our server was prompt, friendly, and attentive! The food came out hot and fast. Overall very good, the only reason it's not a 5 is the bland chicken and potatoes. Prices were decent for the size of the portions. A few chains I've been to charge more for less. Definitely a must try in Cincinnati!
(4)Steve A.
Always enjoy dinner at Ferrari's. Great food, wine and service. Love this place!!
(4)Ethan P.
I'm not a big fan of Italian food but I like this restaurant. Good atmosphere inside. The meatball sub was one of the best I have had. The menu selection looked good. It's not like the typical Italian restaurant that just serves a big pile of noodles. The put some thought into their menu and have a very good selection.
(5)Charles S.
Food is just ok....but expensive for what it is. My real issue with this place is the service. We ordered a bottle of wine and when the server brought it out she open and poured it. Never showed us the bottle to confirm it is what we wanted, and never offered a taste. In addition the server had to ask what my mother wanted to drink 3 times...even though it was written down. Just didn't feel like the service one would expect when sitting down to a nice dinner. It was more like what you would get in a pizza joint.
(3)Beth M.
My husband and I had our wedding reception at Ferrari's. We were so impressed with the food and the staff! There were about 70 people in our party, and there was never an empty glass. The owner and managers were so helpful and flexible in the planning process. They were able to prepare separate plates for family members with food allergies and even had their servers cut and serve the wedding cake! And the food - my goodness! The room was flooded with compliments from happy guests. Not your typical wedding food! We had Ferrari salads for everyone and two entrees (family style): Chicken Parmesan over pasta and Pork Marsala over mashed potatoes. Both options were a huge hit. The house wines were great, too. A lot of the guests said they will definitely be back in the future, and I know that my family will continue to frequent Ferrari's for decades. I have always loved their food, but after this experience, I have a new appreciation for the restaurant as a whole. Thanks Ferrari's!
(5)Steve A.
I probably didn't have a typical experience here, but I did eat the food, so we'll go with that. We had a pretty large party for a wedding rehearsal dinner. We had 2 waitresses dedicated to our party. They were very attentive and quick. I'm assuming their gratuity was already included due to the size of our party, so it was good to know they weren't just doing the bare minimum knowing they already had a big tip coming. The beer selection seemed pretty good for a little family-owned Italian restaurant. But I have to say the prices were a bit high in my opinion. It kept me from drinking as much as I normally would have (which hey, maybe that's their intention all along). The food was just okay. If I weren't so local-minded, I would probably mention that I've had better Italian food at a common chain that rhymes with golive arden. But that would be very unpretentious of me, so I digress. The chicken marsalis was mediocre. The mashed potatoes seemed to be pretty popular in our group but didn't wow me. The best part of the meal was the Lasagna. While it was good, again, I've had tastier. I really hate to give this place only 2 stars, but the simple fact is I have no desire to go back. Plus the Yelp definition of 2 stars is "Meh, I've experienced better" which couldn't be more accurate.
(2)Ann M.
PROS: Wide variety of food Tastes great! Fresh ingredients Friendly and attentive staff CONS: Complimentary bread served cold Pricey Several "Americanized" dishes (BBQ Chicken pizza...)
(4)Sandra F.
Feel very welcome walking in this small restaurant. Great experience from beginning to end. I had the artichoke totellini and it was delicious!
(4)Monica W.
What a cute little Italian restaurant! I love the food here! I always order the spaghetti with meatballs or the artichoke tortellini. They need to do a little updating on the decor and I absolutely hate the light blue polo shirts that they make the staff wear! It makes them look like McDonald's workers! They should wear black long sleeve button down shirts.
(4)Angela H.
"Cincinnati's best kept secret," according to the website. I'm not so sure if it's the best kept secret, but it is an Italian joint that really only folks who live in the Madeira area seem to know about. Ferrari's is authentic Italian, this isn't the Olive Garden by any means. Portions on most menu items come in two sizes, single servings are more than enough to serve two while grande portions could easily feed a family of four. We started with the toasted vegetable ravioli, which was delicious (lots of peppers though, so watch out). From there, we chose the Penne Formagio...basically penne pasta with every Italian cheese imaginable, I was in dairy heaven. Dessert was outstanding, we sampled Ferrari's Bakery's gelatto and loved it. It wasn't at all crowded when we went but this is a favorite among locals so make a reservation if you're thinking of heading there on weekend night.
(4)Emily N.
Try the pizza, its amazing!
(4)Haejin K.
This was my second visit at this restaurant, again using Groupon. We went in for lunch. To use groupon, we had to order sandwiches and soup or salad. The waitress was kind at first until I asked her if we could have different bread instead of rye bread which caraway seeds were not adapted well to our taste buds. Last time, we had a basket of assorted bread. This time it was not. I didn't want to ask anymore since the waitress seemed quite annoyed already. With the groupon (half sandwich and half salad or soup), there was only one kind of salad you could get without paying extra. That is plain salad with greens, nothing fancy. We had Turkey Focaccia panini (recommended by the waitress, very good), lasagna (delicious), salmon bit sandwich (i liked it) and two slices of cake, oreo mousse and cheese. Since the bakery where you can purchase bread and dessert is not part of the restaurant, you have to go to the bakery to meet up with the waitress and tell the waitress what you want. Then she brings the desserts to your table. I loved their paninis and can't wait till next time to try out more from their menu. Since the server already showed annoyed, i try to be super friendly and accommodating. She seemed better towards to our lunch.
(4)Stephanie B.
I was in Madeira with friends recently, and we found our way to Ferrari's because we didn't want to do the 1-hr wait for dinner down the road. The food here was actually very good. I tried their garlic bread and a Caesar salad with calamari. The calamari was deliciously sweet and its texture was soft, not chewy- a sign of calamari cooked properly!! My only complaint is that it took them forever to get the food to our table. Good thing we ordered the garlic bread or I know we would've become hangry! Everything felt slightly overpriced, and the atmosphere was nothing special. All together, I wouldn't ever make this a destination restaurant, but I suppose it's okay if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)Shon M.
Wonderful restaurant! The outdoor patio seating is fabulous! Probably one of the best outdoor seating areas in the Greater Cincinnati area! Large menu with so many choices. We were a group of 5 and everything we ordered was exceptional. The portions are huge too! I would highly recommend to anyone!!
(5)Michele G.
A really good family style Italian restaurant that is not a chain! Located in a quaint little area the ambiance is nice and the food is solid too. One of the best dishes by far was the tortellini florentine..eggplant parm was ok , not bad just not the best I have had but everything else was great. The bread is awesome! I would definitely recommend giving it a try , especially if you like locally owned places.
(4)David B.
It's a hot day and we just a had a most lovely lunch in the shaded, beautiful back patio. The soups (classic minestrone and a creamy chicken and artichoke) were delicious and perfectly seasoned. The flat bread with sausage, grilled peppers and onions, and melted cheeses was superb. Crispy crust and chewy textures. The house salads were lovely. Some wine, mood music, and Patty's attentive coddling ... heaven.
(5)Lorinn W.
I'm not sure how you'd find Ferrari's without knowing its hidden position. I hope you find it. It's worth the search. They have a great salad--- the Ferrari salad. Their outdoor seating is lovely. Their bread is so good. Hard not to keep eating it before our meal arrives! Many nice, Italian menu options. Take out service is easy and very good once home. Oh---and the have a bakery!!
(4)William K.
Worst dining experience I've had since... the last time I ate here. To keep it short and sweet... 7:30 reservations. Seated at 8:20. Order taken at 8:31. Apps delivered at 8:57. Entrees came at 9:31... a full two hours after our reservations. No apology from a manager. No offers to comp anything... and oh yeah... WAY over charged. Not charged the prices on the menu. I would have complained but I feared it would take another two hours to get a response. My check was more than TWENTY dollars more than the menu indicated it would be! This is theft. And the "special" I ordered? Weak. Obviously a reheated frozen product. Do not eat here. It is a waste of your money. For some reason a review I posted about this place a couple years ago got deleted. I can only hope that anyone paying attention to what I have to offer sees this before it gets thrown out so that they don't waste their time or money. This place is worth neither.
(1)Tabitha W.
A Groupon brought us here, and I'm thinking our first experience is going to prompt a repeat visit. Since moving to Cincinnati almost a year ago, I don't think we've tried many Italian restaurant. Tucked away off the street, you'll find this local Italian place with a fairly cute interior and a bit of rustic charm. Some areas of the restaurant are a little more "rustic" than others (plaster on the upper walls in back dining area) but overall a positive atmosphere. No complaints about the service; everything moved along well. We started with the Stuffed Mushroom Patricia and Toasted Ravioli. The second appetizer features vegetable ravioli, and I think I would have enjoyed it more if it were just cheese. We ended up sharing the Tortellini Florentine for our entree. All of the food seemed really fresh and of good quality. The lunch prices aren't bad, but it does look like most things get more pricey for dinner. They also had some tempting offerings up front in their bakery area that we had to force ourselves to bypass this time around. There is a large sign from the street for the restaurant, but we still weren't sure where it was when we pulled in. Another sign prompting drivers to drive down a little further might be more useful.
(4)Kevin P.
Reservations were for 730pm they seated us at 745pm which wasn't to bad becasue they were busy when we arrived. However the service was horrible. The waitress didn't come around in a timely fashion to check on us. The food I must admit was excellent. I will definitely be back because it was my first time there... Hopefully my next visit will be a better one....
(1)Amanda T.
I went here for dinner one night and it was good. It has a large parking lot and is dimly lit. There is a fireplace, but it is a bit chilly if you're not sitting right next to it. I kept my jacket on during dinner. There are several smaller rooms, so it feels very intimate. You do sit pretty closely though to the tables next to you. We got seated right away, but we also got there before the dinner rush. The food was good. I had the vegetable pizza. This is not your normal vegetarian pizza, which I was not expecting. It was basically a plate of vegetables with a thin crust underneath. I think if I had ordered a margherita pizza I would have enjoyed the pizza more. The vegetable pizza though was strange and I ended up eating the vegetables with a fork since it was so heavy the pizza broke if I tried to pick it up. I did appreciate that the vegetables were fresh though. I wish I liked my entree better. It is a cute restaurant. The bakery items looked delicious, but I didn't get to try any that night. I will give Ferrari's another chance since I love Italian and think I just maybe didn't order one of their better dishes. Unfortunately, one of the reasons I did that was because their food is on the more expensive side. I would recommend making reservations if you are planning on going around a meal time. Hope I enjoy my next experience at Ferrari's more! My last experience was not bad, but it wasn't outstanding.
(3)Sue L.
We love to sit outside on the patio on the nice weather. Bread is homemade and really good. Pasta is always good. We like the antipasta salad. Wine list is good and reasonably priced.
(4)Lisa S.
The food is delicious, but lately it's become a question of how much we're willing to suffer. One afternoon we went and despite the fact that the place was pretty empty, service was slow. We were seated next to a large, loud party and could barely hear each other over them. The most recent time we tried to go we barely made it in the door. Knowing that it might be busy, we called ahead and were told that since it was still early (around 5:40) that "as long as you get here by 6 we can seat you". We rushed to get there on time and then stood patiently while the three hostesses ignored us for a few minutes. When one of them finally deigned to look at us, we asked for a table for two and were told the entire restaurant was booked full until 7:45. The restaurant was fairly empty from what we could see. When we explained that we had called 15 minutes before and been told otherwise, the hostess turned her back to us and resumed talking to her friends. After a few moments of stunned silence, we turned and left. In general, service is slow and the staff is standoffish. It's always a battle to get a seat and never feels worth it.
(2)Mark S.
My wife and I enjoyed dinner here last night. I understand the restaurant has been around 17yrs! Great little spot, decor a little worn but a neat little place. Good food and an option with most dishes for a small or large portion which is nice if you want enough left overs for a second meal. Reasonable prices, good service at a relaxed pace. I am sure we will return.
(4)Sam L.
We had a groupon here, and were impressed by the food and the waitstaff. It is a little hard to find, but the food is all home made and so yummy!
(4)Richard W.
A local institution that has been in business for at least 19 years so they are doing a lot right! In addition to the bar & restaurant, there is also a full bakery where all of the wonderful Italian bread and desserts are made. Even though they can seat a lot of patrons for dinner, the atmosphere feels quaint and intimate due to the multiple smaller rooms. I've heard the outdoor patio is a fantastic place to hang out when the weather is good...but I've never had the opportunity to sit out there yet. This is the type of Italian restaurant that serves large, family-style portions. It's good for groups and/or people who like to share. I love this as I can never decide on just one item and I get to sample off multiple plates. I like the spinach and artichoke tortellini pasta dish for my main course. I pretend that having spinich stuffed into the pasta overides the gooey cheese next to it...so its a "healthy" choice. The scallops added to our Ceaser Salad were huge and seared perfectly. We make it a point to leave enough room in our stomachs for one of the homemade desserts and coffee. which means end up taking home food for a nice lunch the next day.
(5)John Henry E.
very delicious, came for lunch. bread was very tasty.
(4)Gincinnati ..
The food is good! My sisters always orders pasta with meat sauce and it's always delicious. The servers are cheerful. The ambiance is rustic and cozy with fireplaces and opera music. I think it's a great for date nights!
(3)Frank E.
My new favorite Italian restaurant. Food was 4 star. When is the last time you got 9 plump scallops with your pasta? Orange roughy was excellent. Salads were fresh, cold and delicious. Great experience!
(4)Cathy S.
The reason I'm giving it 1 star is because we were so turned off by the time we got our food, it was too late for redemption. The staff looks like an average age of 16. They are a bad representation for the restaurant. We had 7:45 reservations and didn't get seated for over half an hour. While we waited for our table, 4, yes FOUR, teenagers stood at the hostess stand giggling. They never updated us, or anyone else, on their wait time. Once we were finally seated we sat for 10 minutes before we were even approached by our waitress. Then it took about 10 more before we got our drinks. We got our basket of "free" bread AFTER we ordered garlic bread. Come on! My shrimp scampi was so spicy, I could barely eat it. Nothing about spicy was mentioned on the menu. When the girl brough us our dinners, I tried to hand her my salad plate. She looked at it and walked away. I'm sad because I thought it would be a fun place to go. Never again. Oh, I almost forgot. It was about 8 degrees outside and we had to park a block away. Fun times.
(1)Amy C.
Food: 5 stars Service: 2 stars Atmosphere/ambience: 2 stars My husband & I went here for Christmas Eve, had reservations, & expected it to be busy. We've also been here a few other times without issue & the food has always been great as it was on this holiday evening. With just two of us, we were wedged at a tiny table stuck between two large-party tables, who of course had their own loud conversations, drowning out our conversation from each other. We were seated on folding chairs (didn't know they used those at a nice restaurant) & our table was directly below a grime-caked vent blowing cold air & chunks of dust onto our table. We had passed two tables that seated only two each, so my husband asked if we could be moved, but we were told those tables weren't available. However, they would turn the vent off (not sure if that did or didn't happen.) If it wasn't a holiday & we wouldn't have been able to get in elsewhere for a comparable meal, we would have left. Honestly, it would have been much more relaxing to carry out the food & eat it at home, but we had gotten dressed up for a stress-free holiday night out after dealing with an on-going family crisis involving a close relative in the hospital for weeks. I won't call in reservations here again for a nice sit down dinner where my husband & I can't talk & instead have dirt blown on us & our food. Addditionly, I let management know of our disappointing evening via the reservations site and never heard a peep. A shame since the food is good.
(3)Steve R.
Absolutely wonderful experience! Food was delicious, service was outstanding, and the atmosphere was quaint and casual. First time visit with friends and family, and intend to return in the near future. Definitely a hidden gem in Cincinnati.
(5)Travis P.
Absolutely unbelievably food. I have always been a fan of the Italian restaurant that bakes bread and pastries in house, they usually have great tasting food and Ferrari's proved me right. I went here with my wife for lunch one day and I ordered the breaded fish sandwich, which was delicious. They served it with a side of a Caesar pasta salad which was really good also. My wife ordered the breaded chicken parmesan sandwich which was amazing! If you go order this sandwich! For dessert they had tiramsu on the menu which was also really good but I asked if they had any cannolis and they did! Delicious! Great place for lunch on an week day, now I have to go back for dinner.
(5)Robert S.
Traditional Italian fare. Recently spoke with visitors from Italy who had eaten at Ferrari's. They commented on the authenticity of the food. I personally enjoyed it as well. The fresh baked breadth at is served with meals and sold is excellent. Well worth taking home a loaf. Pleasant low key atmosphere, staff could do with a little training but not a deal breaker.
(4)David C.
Ferrari's is a bit of a mixed bag; we've eaten here a dozen times and the food is always good to (sometimes) very good, but I just cannot say say it's excellent. They do make a nice, but not great, red sauce and a good pizza (wood-fired I think), and their food is consistently fresh. Unfortunately, the harder part of rating Ferrari's is justifying their prices, and that's where the restaurant falls way short, IMO. Simply stated, the cost is quite high for relatively plain and simple (ie., peasant) Italian with no grand flourishes or standout presentations, and it's not as though the environment has anything resembling a WOW factor (although it is comfortable). It is a high-priced restaurant in an affluent area, and that's that. Decent to good onsite bakery with breads & cookies, but again, protect your wallet or purse cuz it's all pricey.... Be forewarned, Romantics: there are a lot of families eating here every night with children (not a bad thing), so do not expect a quiet romantic table (or evening) at Ferrari's, cuz it's not happening. They do have a small bar inside, and in the summer I highly recommend enjoying a shaded lunch on the beautiful patio outside. Just can't recommend dinners at Ferrari's based on their overall pricing.
(2)Aaron A.
Spaghetti was overcooked; as mushy as Chef Boyardee. The Alfredo sauce was coagulated. Cheese pizza was lifeless and bland; bread topped with cheese. Service was good. Food was bad. Save some money and go to Olive Garden.
(1)M B.
The food is very good, but really it's best left for takeout. Everything is so rushed inside that there's no time to enjoy your company. Also, don't let them seat you in the very back room -- it's a sauna. That said, the food really is very good and I think we'll be getting takeout from here again in the future. But I don't see us eating in anymore.
(3)Clark R.
We love this place, we come often to introduce friends to Ferrari's. The entrees and salads are huge and delicious. Share or you'll have plenty to take home for another meal. The bread is so good. Our favorite spot to eat is on the covered patio.
(5)Ann G.
I love the atmosphere at Ferrari's, especially in the winter when the fireplaces are blazing. After living in Cincinnati for 25 years and trying pretty much every Italian place around, we've settled on this as the best. My favorite dish is the Salmon ala pesto. I like that there are several seafood choices and vegetarian choices.
(5)Diane C.
Have eaten here several times and the food has always been extremely disappointing, very bland, I think Chef Boyardee is better and haven't eaten that since I was a kid. Portions are large but unnecessary, would rather have less for a tasteful dish. I hope when A Tavola opens it puts them out of business, it's embarrassing that it is still open and people eat there. Do you not know good food. Awful!
(1)Kate J.
Great Italian food. This place makes Olive Garden taste like a lean cuisine. Romantic for date nights. Great bakery attached for take home stuff. A little cramped for space, but cool decor. Good wine selection. Prices are okay and won't kill you for a nice dinner.
(4)Jayne H.
I love this Italian restaurant it always satisfies my love of Italy. The lasagna and the house salad with some stuffed mushrooms were superb. Good jobs working hard from the staff. We were seated in a very comfy room and served by wonderful staff.
(5)Gayle K.
Found this local eatery by happenstance and we were so glad we did. We are not locals and our GPS found it for us and always wanting to try local spots we went to our destination. On what looked to be a very busy Saturday night we were thrilled to be seated immediately. Our server came and took our drink order and offered help with any items on the menu. She brought an assortment of on site baked fresh bread. It was an assortment of four or so different varieties all of which were tasty and fresh. Our order came quickly and was hot and fresh. We had the rigatoni pasta, lasagna, margherita pizza and the pollo basillico. All dishes were plentiful and amazing! We took half of it home. We were too full to try dessert but the adjoining table had tiramisu , cheesecake and something else that looked truly amazing. On the way out we stopped by the bakery to,take a treat back to the hotel for later. We were thrilled to find a genuine local italian spot that we will recommend for others to find in the future. Yum!
(5)Gary H.
Went there for a Saturday afternoon lunch. I had the eggplant parm, excellent dish though the pasta on the side was somewhat blah. Others in our party had the lasagna and said it was the best they ever had. The size of the dishes were huge, even with the lunch size. The smells from the bakery also have you salivating
(3)R B.
The food here is decent standard italian fare. The bread was stale but that's not a deal breaker for me. We came here to have a nice, quiet sit down meal. However, it was unbearably hot in the section of the restaurant we were sitting in. My husband and I were both sweating profusely and our meal was not enjoyable to say the least. I normally don't sweat like that unless if I'm working out at the gym. It had to be over 80 degrees in the section we were in. It was just purely unacceptable. My husband and I ate so quickly just to get out of there. We would have normally stayed for dessert and coffee. Would consider ordering take out. On the plus side our waitress was nice and service was good.
(3)Matthew B.
Staff was very friendly. Portions huge. I loved the taste of the sauce. Major complaint? The meatballs. Very processed looking with no taste. Maybe it is just my personal taste, but I like a meatball to look like balled up meat, not salami consistency.
(3)Susan O.
We love the authentic Italian dishes! Can't go wrong with lasagna. I tried a seafood diavolo special. Yum! Service is prompt and friendly. Very family-friendly, come as you are environment. One suggestion - they recently made some lighting changes. Was pretty dark, now overly- bright. New light bulbs are tricky in our home, too. Hope they get it fixed.
(4)Lauren D.
My family and I go here every year for out Christmas we dinner and it is always amazing. It's a small Italian restaurant and bakery tucked away in a corner. The service is amazing the seafood is great. As soon as you sit down you get fresh bread with olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce. For dinner you should definitely get what ever they have on special it's always amazing! Oh and you can't forget the cannolis they are delicious! If you want authentic Italian this is the best place to get it in cincinnati! You won't be disappointed
(5)Dave B.
I've been to Ferrari's several times, always as a special treat for an anniversary or celebration. Hidden away behind a few nondescript buildings in the heart of Madeira, it's easy to pass if you aren't looking for the sign. (HINT: If you're coming from the Euclid Road direction, it's just past Adrian's Pharmacy and immediately on your right after you cross the railroad tracks.) The hidden location is part of the charm of this place. Originally built to be a Spanish restaurant, Ferrari's has a small-town, family-owned look and feel. On mild spring or summer nights, dinner on the patio is delightful. On colder evenings, three fireplaces and the open kitchen keep the place nice and cozy. But the real highlight is the food. Be warned: Even if you get the "small" portion, you'll get a ton of food. I had the Mama Bassano's Lasagna last night, opted for the small portion, and still took half of it home with me. Dinner begins with a basket of fresh bread from the bakery up front. There's always an assortment within, and my favorite is the pepperoni bread. The server brings a small plate of oil with a little something red in the center that I think is tomato sauce with a little something added to it. Whatever it is, it's good. I never order an appetizer because I know that between the bread and the main course, I'm going to be fighting to make room for dessert -- and you definitely want to leave room for dessert! As another reviewer mentioned, the lasagna is packed with sausage. It's also layered with cheese and fresh pasta, and it's just delicious. Even reheated the next day, it's marvelous! This visit, I tried the Alamos Malbec with dinner, while my wife had the Wilhelm Riesling. Both were adequate, which is what we were expecting, given they were among the cheaper wines on the menu. And now we come to the main reason I keep going back to Ferrari's -- the tiramisu! I honestly could eat their tiramisu every day and never get sick of it. It's just wonderful, and they serve you a generous portion, too! As another reviewer noted, the decor is in need of a fresh coat of paint and some updates here and there. The server's uniforms likewise need to be classed up a bit. Someone else suggested white shirts and black pants, and I agree that would fit well. Overall, though, Ferrari's is a gem and definitely worth the trip. Manga!
(5)Opal K.
Cute place :) Been here many times and would probably go more if it were closer. Lots and lots of veg options. The tortellini is delicious !! Portions are generous...
(4)Chris C.
I brought 12 ladies here (women's group) for dinner and everyone loved the food, service, and nice private room. I had called ahead and asked that the table be set up a certain way, and they did that exactly, plus gave us separate checks. All the food was wonderfully good. I have eaten here many times in the last couple of years, but always for lunch. The dinner prices seemed a little high in comparison, since usually higher dinner prices include more food or a salad of something. I will definitely be back again for lunch & dinner. I didn't have room for dessert, but I had a bite of my friends pistachio gelato & it was yummy!
(4)Courty B.
Love dining on a cool night on the outdoor patio. Service and food has improved immensely this year. We are really enjoying 1/2 price wine nights and the salads. Very happy they are in the neighborhood!
(4)meggan K.
No matter what you get to eat here, it is great. The service is amazing and the food is good. Servings are quite large, we ordered the small order of stuffed mushrooms and we got 9 mushrooms!! Order accordingly, the chicken marsala comes with about a pound of mashed potatoes that you could just keep eating and eating! Great place for a date or family dinner.
(5)Rick L.
Read several reviews that said the prices are premium while the food is not. I completely agree with those reviews. We had some good gelato for dessert. Other than that, neither my wife nor I ate anything that we are interested in eating again, especially for $25 per entree. Service was not good. Ambience was not good. Overall, not good. Many, many much better places around Cincinnati to dine Italian at these prices.
(1)Tom W.
We had a great meal here. It was definitely expensive for what it was, but it was good. With the exception of whatever that dried out mess my wife got, but they immediately replaced it with another, better, dish of her choice, no hassle, no charge. The service was excellent, and we were seated right away on a Saturday night at 6:30, even though the parking lot was almost full. There were lots of families, I wouldn't call it an intimate place, you're not going to see two dogs sucking spaghetti, but it does have an Italian charm that makes it a fun place to eat. And the bread is awesome. The small pasta plate is easily enough for two meals if you can find two to share and don;t want leftovers.
(4)Katherine M.
We always enjoy this place - the service is good and is great for larger groups. We always end up coming at sort of "off" times, so that probably makes a huge difference, but food and drinks come out in good time. We enjoy the food a lot. Their sauce is some of my favorite, and their baked potato pizza is amazingly delicious. Most of their food is good Italian - it's not my absolute favorite, but I always enjoy the food I get.
(4)Fred C.
The restaurant was a very cozy location and the service was EXCELLENT. Unfortunately, the food was very disappointing. It looked good, it was very fresh and it was prepared well (the veggies weren't mushy but just cooked enough) but it lacked flavor. The tilapia chowder was a really thick chowder with lots of meat and vegetables, but again - it was as if the kitchen didn't use any seasoning - specifically salt. I'd agree with some of the previous reviews, that a local chain does a better job and is much cheaper. I love going to privately owned restaurants vs chains but we won't be returning.
(2)Andy D.
One of my favorite Italian places! I've been going to Ferrari's for years and have loved it every single time! The decor is awesome...real authentic Italian bistro feel. The bar area is really nice, and the bakery is a nice touch! The food is great! The lasagna...game over! My favorite, by far, in the entire city. They have really nice veal, and the pasta dishes are always spot on. Definitely check them out if you have not been before!
(4)Wayne M.
I really like Ferrari's, especially the salmon blt. It is to die for! The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is perfect for a nicer lunch and dinner venue. My only complaint is that the prices are a bit steep, but if you are ok paying for quality then make this place your next Italian night out.
(4)