Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse
8390 Market St, Middleton, WI, 53562
Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Menu
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Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in Middleton for healthy meals suggestion.
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
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High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
8390 Market St
Middleton, WI, 53562 - Phone (608) 831-3705
- Website https://johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/middleton/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- 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 : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Yang J.
Let me start with the dessert, which is super awesome. However, the steak they serve may use some improvement. I ordered the porterhouse steak which came as a huge, gigantic piece. The inside is pink and juicy, but the steak as whole was not very well seasoned or salted. The outer part of the steak tends to be hard and dry. Overall I would give the Burlee 5-star and the steak 2. BTW, the service is also 4.5-star so it is where my 3 is coming from.
(3)Jennifer P.
Solid steakhouse, but not special. The goat cheese salad was very tasty, but I added steak to make it an entree salad....the steak was a bit tough. That would not have been so bad, but their idea of a steak knife was a giant butter knife....it simply could NOT cut the steak. Asked for a "steak knife" thinking they had something sharper; got another glorified butter knife. The lemon raspberry cake was delicious.
(3)Bart V.
I walked in at 6:30 on a Saturday night and was seated promptly in the restaurant. I can't say enough about the service. Prompt, attentive and friendly. I had the Filet Oscar which was phenomenal. Creme brûlée was also very good.
(5)Mike P.
Go to Johnny's for lunch. Stay for dinner! Every time I'm in Wisconsin, I make it a point to visit Johnny's. The staff are so nice and professional and the food is second to none! I can't wait to visit the Madison area again!
(5)Eugene L.
I gave this place another try (after a disheartening first visit, they reached out and asked me to give them another try) and wasn't disappointed. The food was excellent. I ordered a steak "chanel" style medium rare, with a side of spinach salad. It was excellent all around. The steak was cooked medium rare through and through and the "chanel" style toppings were excellent. I would definitely come back again.
(4)Steve L.
Once again, I find myself debating between 2- and 3-stars... I work near this location, and we often visit with larger groups while celebrating events such as promotions, transfers, successes, and so on. We usually land here at lunch - Johnny has some decent daily lunch specials, so be sure to check them out prior to ordering the usual fave'. Note that you'll always receive a bread basket for the table, so keep that in mind if you're tempted to order an appetizer. We usually order the calamari, which is quite often rubbery and over-breaded. We also order the sausage bread, which features crumbled sausage, a few bits of onion and peppers, tomato sauce, and a pinch of cheese, all enveloped in a bread shell - similar to a stromboli. It's not bad, but it will sit heavy in the 'ole belly. The salads are huge; ask for dressing on the side. The entrees are decent, and offer a good value during the lunch hour. I've had the lobster mac and cheese (rich, but semi-tasteless), the sirloin and potatoes (not a bad dish), several salads (decent), and the burger (mediocre). I've also sampled countless other dishes... there's nothing bad, but there's nothing outstanding. I've heard the brunch is good - I'll have to give that a try some time. Service is spotty; certain waitstaff are phenomenally great, others are ordinary, some are quite absent. I suppose it all depends on the day, time, and luck-of-the-draw. So... you can do a lot worse than Johnny's, but you could also do better. If you're in the area, give it a try and share your experience here. Johnny's Italian Steakhouse = MEH Food = 2.75 stars Value = 3.25 stars (lunch menu) Service = 2.75 stars MISC = 3 stars (comfy steakhouse feel)
(3)Amy K.
I would give a 2.5 if I could. Here's the thing. We usually only remember to write a review unless something is really good or really bad. I came to Johnny's about 3 years ago and got the ravioli and remember it being decent. Like a chain Italian restaurant. I had it again 3 weeks ago and got the apple Gorgonzola salad, minestrone soup, and tomato mozzarella salad. Overall it was satisfactory. Good enough that when I decided it was too cold and late to go out for food, I ordered Johnny's. This time, the food was awful. And I was starving so that says a lot. The minestrone was way too salty and tasted like it came from a can. The tomato mozzarella salad just did not seem fresh. And I got the "crispy zucchini", which was just a flat out disappointment. I'll stick to braving the cold next time.
(3)Ri M.
My boyfriend and I went to this restaurant for the first time on Easter Sunday and were impressed by the look of the place, it is elegant and neat. I loved the idea of their tall booths to give some privacy to the customers. I had one of their signature steaks called Deburgo, they were two steak medallions with a white creamy sauce, the meat was kind of chewy taking in consideration their specialty is the steaks, the sauce was bland, for the side I asked for a house salad, you know the basic one, lettuce, cherry tomatoes; however, the dressing was really good, tangy and sweet my boyfriend had a steak called Oscar, he also found his meat chewy, the only thing he liked were the garlic mashed potatoes, I tried some and he was right, it tasted nice and homemade. To be honest, it didn't meet my expectations, I really hoped to have at least a wonderful piece of meat at a steakhouse.
(3)Jae C.
I'm only reviewing based on service, NOT the food (since we didn't eat any!). We came in here starving and had a lukewarm greeting from the two hosts. Ok, fine. Whatever. Maybe it was the gloomy, almost-about-to-rain weather. We were seated in a booth near a table of what seemed like 15-20 people. Unfortunately, we had the same server they did. Which means, we didn't really get much attention....if at all. The only thing we really got was water, which arrived later than expected. And we put in our order for the lobster mac and cheese appetizer. After a couple of minutes, we were pretty much ready to order. That's when the server began to take the bigger table's order....and we just weren't having it. Our logic was that she could've taken our order first to get us out of the way rather than have us wait for her to take the order of 15-20 people. So, learning our lesson from the horrendous service at Picanha in California (we told ourselves if we had a feeling that it wasn't gonna be a good experience, we wouldn't stay), we went with our gut and just left. Oh well. MAYBE we'll try some other time. At least we quenched our thirst with some water.
(1)Bob W.
We went without reservations after arriving late from out of town. No more than half the tables in the restaurant were filled. The hostess was snobby and asked if we had reservations and when we said we didn't, she said it would be a 25-30 minute wait. To say we were offended and insulted would be understated. We will not be back, ever. They need to work very hard on improving their attitudes and their attention to serving customers.
(1)Dayna M.
Disclaimer: This review has nothing to do with the dinner served at Johnny's. I have had dinner here before, it's pretty good (albeit a bit overpriced). But nothing deserving of 5 stars. My review is for the Sunday brunch at Johnny's. Oh my, wow! $15 all you can eat buffet.. And that is a steal for the food that is offered. There's a prime rib station, omelet station, waffle station, dessert bar, and numerous hot breakfast/lunch dishes which often vary from week to week. There is also a fresh, GIANT, complimentary cinnamon bun brought to your table. If this isn't enough to entice you, Johnny's offers BOTTOMLESS mimosa's for under $5!!!!! I'm serious! To top it off, I have never.. Ever had to wait to be seated for brunch at Johnny's. Do yourself a favor and skip Granite City's overpriced, sub par brunch that you have to wait for an hour just to get a table. Go to Johnny's instead!
(5)Yolanda G.
My husband absolutely loved the veal that they serve here. I had the Tortellini Portabello . It was decent , but nothing out of this world. The crusted goat cheese salad was very tasty. The service was really good too. Not a bad spot to go, just not top of the list.
(3)S E.
This was my second visit, the place was packed and very understaffed !! Waited about 20 minutes before my order was even taken then about another 30 for my food. Waited 10 mins for a refill. I ordered a soup with my meal , they charged me full price for my soup but never gave me the bread or salad that should of came with my meal. If I had hours to waste I would have asked for it. Not sure I would come back
(3)Peter C.
On a cold day with no rental car, Johnny's Italian Steakhouse sure came in handy when it was dinnertime. Our large group of 20+ was expertly handled by Heather, and if you are sitting in her section you are in extremely good hands! She managed to take care of our entire group with almost no help, and nailed every aspect of it. Everyone got the right food, the right check, drinks refilled, you name it. There was a ribeye special that night, and while I didn't do a great job taking the picture, it had a bunch of sauteed vegetables on top, with a very nice sauce on the bottom. It came with a choice of side, but a loaded baked potato is the only REAL option. Am I right, or am I right? Coming back for sure!
(4)Rachel L.
I got a steak here, as it's a steakhouse. It was mediocre at best- The texture and taste were about the same as one you'd get from Applebee's or the like for 10 dollars. Service was also not that great. There were a total of like 10 steak fries with my order, which were super salty. If you are staying at nearby hotels just take a shuttle downtown for better food, or go to the Indian place nearby.
(2)Daylene S.
Should have known from the empty parking lot at 6:30 on a Sat night that things had plummeted down the big slippery hill that F&B dangles from. Signature dish a huge disappointment. Could not chew the supposed tenderloin. Sent back for Chef to see, doubt it happened. Zero attempt at guest recovery. Service overall very mediocre, food (mine and my friend) poor. Martini was only bright spot in the night. Won't be back. Too many places willing to put up a good fight for the greenbacks in my wallet!
(2)Drew B.
I'd go with 3.5 stars. Went here a few times. First time was so so, second time made up for it. Bartender remembered me, and my order, was attentive and very friendly. Decor was alright, food was good. I would recommend.
(3)Christina P.
It was my first time at Johnny's Steakhouse and I went with a date. He suggested we go to Johnny's. My first impression was that it had a very pleasant atmosphere. The bread side was great and also came in a small portion, which is a good thing! I got the Thursday special which was a Parmesan crusted sirloin served with garlic mashed potatoes. It was DELICIOUS! For a price of 10.50 I thought it was extremely inexpensive. I was also trying to keep my dish on the lower end of the price spectrum since my date was paying! I ordered it medium rare and it was at the perfect temperature. The mash was great too. Ask for our server, Julio. He was very proper, attentive, and overall a great server. I am excited to return to this place.
(5)Melinda R.
I was in Wisconsin for training and wanted a good steak! So my coworkers and I decided to try this place. We went on a Thursday night around 8 and the place was almost empty. We got a nice booth at the bar. The ambiance and feel of the place was nice. I hate to be stereotypical, but it reminded me of a classic Italian restaurant. And when I saw the picture of Frank Sinatra on the wall, I knew it was official. :o) To start we tried this fried potato and cheese goodness. There were four of us so we split it four ways and it was MORE than enough. How can one go wrong with potatoes and cheese??? I tried the smothered steak. It was AMAZING!! The steak was nice and tender and seasoned well. My potatoes were delicious and mushrooms were amazing. Everything was just darn good! Our waitress was attentive and very friendly. We had no problems with the service at all. She even split our checks and she split the appetizer four ways! We didn't even have to ask! If I have to go back to Wisconsin I'll be back at Johnny's. There is another steak I want to try!
(4)K. W.
My go to dinner while in town for EPIC training. I've been about 6 times, and once there was plastic inside of the salmon spinach rolls. They took it off my tab. Literally, pulled the plastic out which told me it was pre-made. Other than that service has been great and they delivered to my room twice in the snow!
(4)Eric K.
My wife and I went here on a whim. We both could have not been more satisfied with the food. She had the salmon florin tine and I had the Parmesan crusted NY strip. Both we're amazing. Nice atmosphere. Service was a tad slow, but good things take time.
(4)Michael B.
Yet another EXCELLENT dinner. The Parmesan crusted filet was like BUTTAH. I'm am addicted to the Heart of Italy combo. Very good service and The zucchini strips were divine! Chef Rod is Da BOMB!!!
(5)Evelyn L.
We were there for a graduation celebration. I was pleased with the service, the dishes and the appetizers. The food was certainly above the average and the service was good. I had Seafood Pasta Pomodoro and the flavor is pretty good. I wouldn't say that it's "a generous portion of Mediterranean seafood including shrimp, mussels and scallops" as I only had one scallop in that plate. :-) Overall, it's a good place if you are seeking somewhere to celebrate your anniversary, parent's birthday, or just want to have a good Italian food.
(4)Tara A.
We had a very poor experience here. We came here in the late afternoon (4pm) on a Saturday after a wedding where we did not eat. They sat us in the bar section, where we were not greeted by our server but had him complaining while standing next to our table to another server who had 'stolen his table' We wanted a drink, and I asked the server if they had any drink specials and he replied,'Umm let me check,' then left and did not return for another 5 minutes. He did not have any drink specials when he got back. He was unable to tell us the beers they had, and did not have a list. We each ordered a steak, filet mignon for me and my partner got the NY strip. They tasted OK, but were over done and covered in a thick gravy-like sauce. Not what we expected from a steakhouse.
(1)Kat O.
I am currently in Madison, WI for work and this was the closest steakhouse within walking distance of our hotel. We read the reviews on this place and were kind of iffy on trying it due to the mixed reviews. My sister and I, however, wanted to try something we didn't have in Virginia because we could have naturally gone to the PF Changs which was about a 2-3 block walk or we could have gone to Cheeseburger in Paradise on the opposite side but we said, "No, no. We want to try something we haven't tried before." We were very disappointed despite the smiles on our faces when our extremely efficient and nice waitress came by to ask how things were going. I love getting bread at a restaurant and the bread that we were given tasted like it was frozen then baked. A very...how you say, stretchy? Consistency? The olive oil concoction made one piece bearable. We ordered calamari for our appetizer...sigh. Big mistake. There were only a few good pieces and the others felt like rubber bands in our mouths. The marinara and cream sauce was good but I think I'm going to leave calamari to the coastal cities. We were able to get a house salad with our choice of dressing. I'm a stickler for good restaurant ranch so I was anticipating the salad very much so. We got the salad and poured the ranch on top and took a huge bite...and...tasted...nothing...??? There was almost NO FLAVOR in the ranch! HAHAHA. It was the weirdest thing! It was like, I don't even know how to describe it. If you concentrated hard enough you could probably get the slightest taste of some herbs but other than that, nothing. Then we ordered our petit Filet Mignon with sides. This and the service was probably the only thing that prevented me from giving this place one star. The filet mignon was cooked to my preference and the sides were good. (How could you mess up steamed broccoli and garlic mashed potatoes?) I will admit however, I've tasted much better filet mignon but it was still very good. The decor itself was fantastic and the service impeccable. The waitress always checked up on us and always made sure to ask how things were going (even though we lied somewhat). A+ for service and decor. D - - for food. :( Sad day.
(2)Christopher M.
Chef Rod runs a tight ship. Great, high-quality food and service that doesn't disappoint. I'm especially fond of their Sunday brunch spread - don't miss it ... especially on "special" events like Easter and Mother's Day.
(5)Jody A.
I had asked a co-worker for a good steakhouse in the area and Johnny's was suggested highly. Well, I was sorely disappointed with the food. The service was okay. The drunkin steak was over cooked(asked for med-rare, got medium). The broccoli was slightly mushy. The best thing about the plate was the garlic sauce under the steak and it made the steak edible. I will not suggest Johnny's to anyone.
(1)Tracy G.
Yes, I am upgrading my rating. I am back in Madison for work. I have had Johnny's for the last two nights for delivery to my hotel room. I was very impressed with their steaks. It was cooked it perfectly and the temperature was still very warm when I got them. I splurged tonight and got desert. The ice cream that came with the cake had not started to melt yet. It probably has been the best delivery I have had in a long time, if ever. Service was very fast and correct. . Food, awesome, service incredible. Thanks for making eating in my hotel room an event not a task,
(5)Kara D.
Went here for our first anniversary and I don't regret it for a second. Made a reservation for 6:45, but went early to sit and get a drink at the bar. I loved their expansive bar list, especially the martinis! Hint- get the pomegranate martini if you want your taste-buds to explode! One downside to the martinis (other than them sneaking up on you) is that they were pricier than Johnny Black Label on the rocks. When we were ready to be seated, the hostess sat us immediately, even though it was before our reservation. The waitress we had was attentive, but not overly so and super friendly. We were wanting to order slowly and enjoy our meal and she understood that. As an appetizer, we ordered the fried ravioli (good and large portions!) and we were also given bread that had olive oil and Parmesan to dip into. The bread was fresh, warm and divine. I wanted an entire loaf for myself. For my entree, I ordered filet oscar (has a crab cake on top of the steak). I got it medium rare, which it definitely was, thank you very much chef. The crab-cake was okay, got a little mushy with the cream sauce. The asparagus was okay, not a lot of flavor. However, the steak itself and potatoes made up for it all! Husband got the Parmesan crusted steak, but wasn't a big fan of the Parmesan crusting. Was very tempted for dessert (creme brulee! mounds bar! roasted banana cheesecake!) but just didn't have the room. Plans are already being made to go back for more martini's and dessert!
(5)Elizabeth R.
Hmm, well this was an ok experience. For all of the hype and reputation, I probably will not be back. The service was really slow. I was seated almost ten minutes before I was asked what I would like for a drink. I ordered the steak skewers (a special) for appetizer. They were small, burnt, unimpressive. At every point during this meal, I could have said "meh." I had a steak and mashed potato dinner. The weird thing? No veggies. I know that was not in the description but I literally got a plate with steak and potatoes. And it was ok. There was nothing of merit to describe the food. Honestly, I am just going to end this review because it was a whole lot of "meh."
(2)Devonie M.
When I go to a steakhouse, I expect them to know how to cook a medium piece of meat. BEWARE: if you are ordering a 6oz filet mignon (2 people in my party ordered this size), medium will look like WELL. However the 2 people in my party that ordered 10oz pieces of meat medium was perfect. So just be aware on the smaller cuts. Let me start by saying that it was a Saturday night at 8pm when my party of 4 arrived. It was dead and we had reservations. We were seated in a crescent shaped booth in the bar area. Restaurant was very nice looking outside, and inside had an old steakhouse, nice feel. Service was average, and we were there for several hours. Had lots of drinks and all got steak dinners. The calamari appetizer was very salty, would not recommend. The sausage bread was decent. Salad was family style unless you order individually. Came with a house balsamic and a ranch. Focaccia bread was very good. Asparagus was excellent, as was garlic mashed potatoes. Crab stuffed shrimp was weird texture, would not recommend. High hopes for the parmesan crusted filet. It had nice tenderness but as I said, overcooked. It was OK but for a $350 meal, I would not go back.
(2)Brenda C.
Johnny's is your best bet for a good meal when staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in Middleton if you don't have a car. Biggest plus is that they offer room service to the hotel, which is great especially when the weather is bad. Note that there is an additional fee for room service so if you're up for walking about a few hundred feet I suggest just going to the restaurant if you want to save some dollars. They have a good variety of steak, salad, and Italian dishes on their menu. I've ate there various times and haven't had a bad meal. Some standouts were: The spinach salad- you pay $3.50 to upgrade your side salad to this. It's pretty huge for a side salad I was barely hungry after eating it. It comes with thick strips of bacon and a delicious bacon dressing. The dressing was so good I wanted some to go. The Parmesan crusted sirloin w stuffed shrimp- this was really good. I usually don't go for sirloin at steakhouses because it's often not that tender. This was the exception it was very tender and cooked perfectly. I got the mushrooms as a topper, I thought it'd be a couple of sliced mushrooms but it was a plateful of flavor infused baby Bella's. This was an excellent and indulgent meal. The salmon and shrimp on the salad- I ordered a Waldorf salad with salmon, instead they delivered a shrimp frangelico salad w salmon. It was late in the night and I didn't feel like calling them out on it and the salad looked great. The salmon and shrimp were delicious, but I didn't care for the hazelnuts and dried apricots (which is why I ordered the Waldorf).
(4)Lauren B.
Best service EVER I'm staying at the Fairfield Mariott for a business trip, and I ordered delivery. I completely goofed and accidentally gave Johnny's the wrong room number and wrong name (I forgot my room was booked under my associate's name). They tried to deliver my food and were unsuccessful. When I realized what had happened I called the restaurant to try and retrieve my meal. Johnny's said they'd have to charge me for both dinners if they came back out for a second delivery, and I declined. Shortly after the manager called my room and said he understood things happen, and he'd deliver my exact order no charge! He even personally delivered my meal and would not accept a tip. Oh, and threw in some free soup :D
(5)Lexie V.
While staying at the nearby hotel for work trips, I often walked to Johnny's for dinner. The interior is nice-- dark and relaxing. The bartender is great! Super friendly and easygoing. they also have decent local brews on tap-- love the Hopilicious from Asylum Ale! Now for the food: the steaks are great. I ordered the filet most nights with steamed broccoli and salad. I can't complain. They can cook steaks the way you want, which in my case is rare. I hate it when steak houses can't cook a decent rare steak! Also, Johnny's offers several steak toppers, like a horseradish crust. I tried many out and they were all good. The best dish they offer is the goat cheese salad. Yum! It took me a few tries before discovering it and it's truly delicious and makes for a perfect accompaniment to a steak dinner. This place's weak spot is absolutely desserts. Man, they are just not good. Huge portions, first off, and they LOOK great. However, every dessert I tried was just not very good-- dry/stale and bland overall. They are simply not worth the calories and I tried all of them over time. Anyway, for a steakhouse right in front of a hotel, it's a decent spot with a lot of pretty good fare. I would definitely go here again if I return for work.
(3)Lonnie M.
Went for lunch and as usual was delicious. I had the Italian beef sandwich and my friend had the reuban. I had half of his and he had half of mine. They both were very good. Service was perfect. Prices reasonable. You get what you pay for + more! I love this place. It reminds me of the old supper clubs. Only wish they'd build one by the new theater in sun prairie. I would definitely eat there more often. Love the booths but the tables are comfortable too. The staff aims to please.
(5)Randy T.
I've been coming here about once a month for the last 5 months. When I first came here, I thought the place was amazing. But I also feel like I watched it go down hill since. The food quality has suffered a little, but it is still good food. However, the service continues to deteriorate on each visit. The bad service starts with the greeting at the front door. I've always made reservations because they acted really bothered if you don't. However, apparently they are no long using OpenTable, so a quick reservation is no longer an option. I dislike sitting in bar areas of a restaurant, they are just loud, and I prefer to eat in a quieter environment. They always want you to sit in the bar area. When you asked to sit in the dining area, the host gives you a giant sigh and acts like you've asked for a private dining room. Too bad... this could be the best place in Middleton... but the attitude of the staff just ruins it!
(3)David B.
This my first time here and was pleasantly surprised. The ambience is good and reminds me of many steakhouses I've been too. I had a filet that was cooked perfectly. The service was prompt and friendly, but not overbearing. Johnny's is would be a great place to take a date for a special occasion. I didn't give it 5 stars for the following reasons. 1. The wine selection (by the glass) was lacking. They had several choices for each varietal, but all are low end wines. Yes I'm a wine snob. 2. The bread looks pretty, but lacks any real flavor. The rest of the meal was perfect. Try the baked potato soup. It was the amazing. I look forward to coming back!
(4)Kelsi B.
I would give this place much less stars if not for the food. We came here for my dad's birthday and after reading some of the reviews for this place I wasn't really expecting much. To my surprise, the food was pretty good. But the service was terrible. I'll start with the good. We started with Zucchini fries which were delicious. They were perfectly fried and seasoned and the sauce really complimented them well. Between all of us we ordered a filet with vegetables, the crusted goat cheese salad, the lasagna, chicken parmesan and tortellini portabella with grilled salmon. Everyone really enjoyed their dinner, no complaints on any of the food! Then for dessert we shared a crème brulee and a chocolate chip cookie dough arancini with cinnamon ice cream. Again, everything was really yummy. My brother complained that the dough on the arancini was a bit too chewy but that was the only downfall. Now for the kicker. Our service was terrible. Not terrible in the "our server was rude and didn't care about us" sort of way but terrible in the it took us two and a half hours to get through dinner sort of way. We waited at least 20 minutes between each course. It was absolutely ridiculous. The place was pretty empty too. I can't imagine coming here on a busy night! So, like I said. The food was actually really tasty. But when I go out to dinner I don't expect to sit there wondering if our server forgot about us after each course. I won't be rushing back anytime soon.
(3)Josh M.
I've been here a handful of times. It's a good dinner destination. It's a classic Italian steakhouse. I can't come here and not get the sausage bread appetizer. Think of it like a flat sausage calzone. The cheese came out really crispy and it almost was like eating a lasagna once I added on the marinara. The bread to filling ratio is good so that it doesn't taste like you're just eating a loaf of bread with some sausage. I always go for the filet mignon. It's tender and very flavorful. My mouth is watering just thinking about it now! Also, some steaks come with toppings and they have them in the title. You can add them to any steak though. Needless to say, my filet ended up with parmesean topping and it was a great cheesy and crispy topping. Try to leave a little dessert if you can. When I was there, they had a truffle cheesecake which was wondering. I always love the graham cracker crusts but then add on some caramel and whip cream and you've got yourself a rich, creamy ending to your meal.
(4)Jeff L.
Your run of the mill steakhouse. I don't have anything great to say nor anything bad. We've dined here numerous times and are never disappointed. At the same time infrequently find myself wishing I would have gone to Delmonico's and spent just a little more.
(4)Mallory E.
Delicious. Well since I need to say more I will. I needed a table for one on a Tuesday night and popped in here to make a reservation (I don't think I really needed it) and then did some shopping. After walking around the shops, I was about 30 minutes early and was easily seated. I was super hungry after shopping and decided to start my meal with the Italian Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms. The sausage in the mushrooms were good but towards the end (there were 5 mushrooms) I dug out the mushrooms and just ate the cheese and mushrooms. Then, I had the Petite Filet (medium) with salad, broccoli and asparagus. I have to say this is the best filet I have had in Wisconsin so far. It was delicious-goodness.
(4)Kyara M.
We made reservations for for two on my birthday for 5:15pm on a Thursday. We we got there, the place was pretty empty but by the time we left, business picked up pretty well and fast. I would recommend making RSVP regardless of the day and time. Now on to the important stuff. Johnny's was by far the best restaurant I've eaten at in Wisconsin along with Flemings Steak House. I know they are competitors but these places are just top of the line. I ordered the steak and shrimp stuffed with crab and garlic mash potatoes. The serving sizes are awesome! For $30, you get a great deal of food including bottomless salad which was excellent and fresh bread with olive oil. I do not know what kind of dressing they used for the salad but it was excellent and didn't overwhelm the salad. The croutons also taste homemade which is an extra plus. I am not a fan of crab and didn't want the stuff shrimp with crab but I am so happy I ordered it. The crab was fresh and cooked perfectly. They were basically mini crab cakes stuffed in between the shrimp and the tail. It complimented the steak very well which was crusted itself. I cannot say enough good things about Johnny's. The kiwi martini was made to perfection, the music playing in background was soothing and it's a great spot for couples. Do not take children. It's meant for adults 18+. Service was great. Host was great. Martini was great! Plus I got a free ice cream for my birthday! I will be back here. Highly recommended. Come we extra money however. For me and my boyfriend, we spent $75 without tip but it was worth every penny.
(5)Maria I.
I went to Johnny's Italian Steakhouse with my parents and my in laws. We had a great time. Our steaks were cooked perfectly and the service was good. However, I see this restaurant as more for a romantic night out with your husband/wife rather than a family outing. Giving it 4 stars because wait staff would interrupt every 5 minutes to ask how our food was tasting, something I don't particularly enjoy when I'm trying to have a conversation. Other than that we had a great time.
(4)Eric B.
I've been to Johnny's on a number of occasions both for dinner and for drinks. As a steakhouse it's so so. I prefer it for drinks. This evening I was there for a cocktail reception with a variety of appetizers. The food was decent... Some sort of pizza roll, which I did enjoy. It was stuffed with a sweet sausage. There was also shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, and stuffed mushrooms. There was also a nice cured meat platter - very good. It seemed like the kitchen and wait staff was having a hard time keeping pace with our reception - but overall the service and food were decent.
(3)Anthony R.
I've eaten here twice; once on each of my last two trips to Madison. I'll eat here again before I leave. I am somewhat a creature of habit. When I try an "Italian" restaurant I want to know if it is "Italian" or "italian". This is easy to do. Order the marinara. It is a simple dish that most places don't bother to do right. But a real Italian restaurant will take the time to do this right. That means sauteing tomatoes and spices together, but knowing when to stop. And none of that "al dente" nonsense with the noodles...that's for fat Gourmands in bowties without friends, not for people who just like good food. I am pleased to say Johnny's gets it right. The gravy was magnificent--neither acidic nor sweet with lots of tomato and oregano flavor. MMMMM MMM! I had a "side Caesar salad" which was made with crisp, fresh, clean lettuce, parmigiano cheese, and a tangy, but not quite excellent dressing. It seems to lack the fishy flavor from the anchovy paste. Some folks leave that it, but if you do, that is NOT Caesar dressing. The anchovy is the core of a good Caesar. I took my order to go, and that is where the fifth star went. $10 for a plate of spaghetti and nothing else. The menu says it is served with garlic bread but I received this neither when dining in nor when to go. Also, don't be so stingy with the napkins and not so cheap on the plasticware...the knife needs to be strong enough to support a noodle. The staff are friendly at the bar, professional elsewhere if not overtly engaging. Overall, a very pleasant experience and, as I said, I will be back!
(4)G A.
Closest restaurant to my Hotel. Food: Bruschetta was a disappointment. Piled with diced tomatoes & mushy. I only ate 1 of 4 slices. Side house salad was average. I couldn't finish it. Seafood pasta was good. It would have been great if the pasta was served still hot. I was sitting at the bar area so service was again just ok. The bartender did the best she could to serve me. Based on other reviews, I might try the filet steak next time I am in the area. Finally, I had a local beer recommended by another customer, which I liked.
(3)Jean L.
Overall, we were not impressed and it was not a good experience. We arrived at 8:30pm on Sunday of Labor Day weekend and they close at 9pm. Although there weren't many people there, our service was still very slow and our server was frantic the whole time. It took a while for our server to come greet us and we had to ask for waters...guess that must not be automatic anymore. We ordered the sausage bread as an appetizer and some of the pieces were burnt on the outside but completely cold in the middle/inside. My supperclub spinach salad did not have any of the hot bacon dressing on it...so they must have forgotten to put it on. I ordered my steak medium and the outside was crunchy and burnt. We weren't even done eating yet because our food took forever to come out and they had already turned off the music and TVs, and turned up the lights. They definitely made us feel very unwelcome and rushed. Thus, we probably won't go back for a very long time.
(2)James H.
I have been to Johnny's several times over the last three years... every time I come out for meetings at Epic Headquarters... and have never been disappointed. The atmosphere is retro in a good way. Like a darkly lit, dark wood, martini and steak house from the 70's with background music by Sinatra and Crosby. It's cozy. Last night I had the broiled crab-stuffed snapper. Served with steamed broccoli as a side (they don't drown it in butter or salt so it is actually good for you!) and a house salad. The snapper was excellent. Seared with a wonderful crust and topped with real lump crab meat... and several large shrimp. Another good choice is the Seafood and Pasta Pomodoro. That one has shrimp, mussels, scallop (one large scallop) and fish with Pomodoro sauce over linguini. A seriously delicious Frutti di Mare type dish. Maybe underpriced at $17, don't skip it just because it is one of the less expensive menu offerings. And the Pomodoro sauce goes great with the foccacia bread.
(5)Jenni B.
We came to Johnny's to celebrate my Dad's retirement and I was very glad this place was nice enough to really fit the occasion. We were seated in a half circle booth facing the bar which is dim with blue lighting for a sort of cool factor. They had some easy listening jazz playing with a Frank Sinatra song here and there. It all worked pleasantly together for a nice dinner. I had their whiskey old fashioned sweet to go along with my meal and I thought it was very smooth. We shared a family style salad and were able to try some great house bread in olive oil and pepper. The bread had a nice salty crust that kept having me lean in for one more piece. I selected the Veal Sinatra for my meal and was happy with my choice. The veal had a nice seared crust and was topped with mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, shrimp, peppers and a cream sauce that was much thinner and lighter than an Alfredo. The seasoned mixed vegetables were very tasty dipped in this sauce (so much for the healthy side!). I think with the salad and bread this easily could be two meals, although I enjoyed it so much I just kept going. We finished our celebration with their creme brulee and their chocolate cake. I thought the cake was intended to be a molten cake because of its size and shape, yet there was no center but rather a little pool of chocolate at the top in a little indent. This came with a scoop of caramel ice cream and a little whipped cream. It was rich and tasty, but my favorite of the two was easily the creme brulee. The caramelized top was so sweet and so crisp, I was trying to eat it slowly so I could savor it all before it was gone. Overall I think this was a very nice dining occasion and if I lived in Madison I would surely come back to have dinner on their patio area in the summer.
(4)Phat L.
Right now I'm here for a second time in 2 weeks because I want to give them another shot, but once again my coworker and I are going to leave disappointed. When I was here the first time, I sat at the bar and got the filet which was actually a pretty decent cut of meat, but the seasoning they put on there just makes it seem like a really cheap steak( think montreal seasoning from costco). This time, they took 1.5hrs to overcook my med rare porter house to a beef jerky like medium well. I'm so hungry that i'm just going to eat it and blame myself for trusting them. Its such an insult to the cow that gave us this fine piece of meat so some knuckle head can over cook it.
(2)Lady A.
I booked a room at the Hilton Garden Inn for this week, and while looking around online for places to eat...I found Johnny's. After reviewing the menu...I couldn't wait to try this place. I was in no way disappointed! The food was the best ever, and I have travel to or thru almost every state in the Union, and served overseas. If food gets any better than this...believe me...it would have to be in my dreams! Now....let's talk about service...ABOVE an BEYOND! Kristen (sp)...provided me with impeccable service and attentive conversation! She knew how the food was cooked, and had a highly positive view of the food! She provided everything with perfect timing! When I couldn't stuff everything down...Kristen bought me a carton and proceeded to place my crab stuffed Tiger shrimp in it!!! I'm just glad this place isn't where I live...because if it was...I would be huge by now...from coming here everyday! I didn't get the hostess's name, but she was as sweet as she could be, and very customer service oriented. I didn't have a reservation, but she did provide with the option of the bar, or in the back. I chose in the back. She was friendly, and I have absolutely no complaints at all. Even the wait staff greeted me as I walked by or smiled when I saw them walking by. Great Job Kristen and everyone at Johnny"s!!!
(5)Nancy Y.
I've eaten here three times. I usually come here once every trip because it's so close to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn-literally right across the street). I ALWAYS get the filet mignon with the spinach salad, baked potato and banana cheesecake. The filet is cooked to the way you like it. Baked potato comes with all the fixings. Spinach salad comes with a yummy sweet salad dressing and my favorite is the banan cheesecake. The bananas come out caramelized and gives the cheesecake a nice crust. The annoying thing about this restaurant is the fact that they make you wait 30 minutes for a party of 5+. We waited 30 minutes each time and the restaraunt was half empty. Service is also a bit slow and one time we sat for 3 hours just waiting for our food, eating and then waiting some more to get the bill. Next time, I'm just going to order it to go and eat it in my room.
(4)Sarah K.
I've been here for my birthday ones, the food was great and the service was nice. I plan to be here for my graduation dinner also! Pretty excited!
(5)J D.
Johnny's is no longer our go to place for a guaranteed fabulous meal, with exceptional service. The hosts and hostesses seem like you are an inconvenience., not very welcoming. They don't even smile. Most of the waitstaff are very good but some are not very observant. Dirty dishes are not removed, coffee and drinks are not refilled. The food is hit and miss. I guess it depends on who is in the kitchen. The desserts that use to be the best in town are now just ok or in some cases really bad. This is very sad. We use to love Johnny's and are very disappointed in the decline of the service and food. I doubt we will be returning.
(2)Samuel S.
I'm from out of town and this was down the street from my brother's workplace, so we gave it a shot. Both my bro and I are dairy free, he's allergic and I've become lactose intolerant as of this year. Our server accommodated us graciously and we were very pleased with the choice we made. Both of us had the same thing, 21 day aged filet mignon with asparagus, salad as a starter. It was perfect! The hostess noticed that we hadn't been waited on for awhile and found us a server right away, so I give the hosp staff a plus for being on their A game. I've been in the industry for 10+ years, so I'm more than understanding of how those kinds of things happen. All in all, great experience, swanky atmosphere, and awesome food. Would bring a date here if I lived in the area. Give it a try!
(4)Victoria A.
My mom and I went here to celebrate the end of my college semester. We were warmly greeted and sat quickly. We ordered zucchini fries for an AppStore and they were great. Very large portion, I highly recommend them. I ordered the prime rib and she ordered ribeye on the bone. My prime rib was good, not the best I've had. The ribeye was excellent, blackened and seasoned perfectly. Overall we had great experience, great food and a friendly staff. Our waiters name was Kevin and he was great, kind and helpful.
(5)Heather N.
My husband and I have been to Johnny's a handful of times and have never been disappointed. We usually get the same thing every time; I get the filet and he gets the Parmesan crusted New York Strip both with garlic mashed potatoes, Caesar salad and we split the amazing balsamic sage mushrooms. The most recent time we went, my husband tried the portabella mushroom tortellini and we both had the potato soup. Even trying all those new items, it was fantastic! The pricing ranges, of course the steaks are pricier, but the pasta is in the $12-$18 range. So they are not too pricey. For the reviews who say they waited forever, it's a fancy steakhouse and they are cooking a restaurant full of people's food the way they requested. You should have more patience for the amazing food you receive and remember that you should not take it out on your server. You get soup or salad AND amazing bread while you wait, so I will never complain about waiting, because their food is worth the wait.
(5)Joshua B.
Came here for lunch with a friend, per his recommendation. It was good, honestly it was darn good. It was a Thursday and the lunch special was Certified Angus Beef Top Sirloin. You can choose garlic mashed potatoes, or French fries. I opted for the fries. My friend did the mashed potatoes. You also get a soft drink included with your lunch, all for $10. The service was okay, nothing to boast about. I'll be back for that Thursday lunch special!
(4)Benjamin E.
Food was really good, but unfortunately had disappointing service. We waited an extensive time for drinks, our server forgot bread refills, and then it took 20 minutes until we got our checks - there was nothing about the service that was quick! We were lucky & thankful that we didn't have anywhere to be after dinner, however the constant waiting was starting to get aggravating! To put the icing on the the poor service cake, the server didn't know allergy information, and didn't ask about the allergy info from the bar as requested. He then had to go BACK in (after taking forever for the drinks in the first place) to ask the question he was supposed to ask the first time! Now for the good stuff - I had the Char Ribeye, and it was cooked to perfection. The Caesar salad with anchovies was similarly fantastic. The asparagus was cooked well, but not too much, and the martinis (dirty and with blu-cheese stuffed olives) were great.
(3)Lil M.
Sit at the bar. Let Justin decide what you drink and eat. You won't be sorry. The salmon is good. Oscar filet was amazing. Sausage bread you must try. And don't forget to eat your croutons. They make them in house I'm told.
(4)Deb S.
DH and I had a lovely meal at Johnny's Italian Steakhouse on Friday night. We made 7:00 reservations and were seated promptly upon our arrival. The service from the host and our server was attentive and pleasant. We each had a 6 oz. filet mignon -- mine was Filet Oscar, and his was the Parmesan crusted filet with butterflied shrimp stuffed with crab. We both ordered the filets cooked medium and they both turned out perfectly. The sides were delicious. I ordered a drink from the bar with a minor modification and it arrived exactly as I expected it to be. I am giving Johnny's 4 stars because, frankly, it isn't The Post House in Manhattan or even Morton's, but it is good for what you pay. The Filet Oscar was $32 and the Filet with stuffed shrimp was $28. These are high prices for the Madison market but low for comparable food in larger urban markets. Thanks, Johnny's, for a memorable meal.
(4)Paul G.
Reading other reviewer's comments on this place, it seems to have a split personality. Many commented on how the food was good, yet the service poor. My experience was the polar opposite: the food was mediocre-to-poor while the service was decent. I walked in alone on a quiet Wednesday evening. Like other reviewers, I am staying at the Hilton Garden Inn, a few hundred steps from the door of this restaurant. The host seated me quickly in a nice booth and the server came over quickly to take my drink order. She soon brought my wine and some bread, which were both adequate, not outstanding. My onion soup was industrial, but not unpleasant. The Caesar salad was dressed with a tasteless product that probably came from a large plastic bottle from Sysco. At least the anchovies were fresh (for an extra $2). The biggest disappointment was my rib-eye steak. It was perfectly cooked to medium but I have never before had a rib eye which looked and tasted so much like a strip steak. It had almost zero marbling, virtually no flavor (none of the sweetness or tenderness one expects from a reasonable steakhouse) and was grainy as well. I asked the waitress if this was normally such a lean cut and she affirmed that it was. She offered to bring me a different cut of steak, but I concluded if their rib eye was tasteless, the sirloin would be like the sole of a shoe. When I received my check, it was about $45, which is a lot of money for the same or poorer quality food that I could have gotten from a TGIF or Applebees. Overall, I was really disappointed in the quality of the food. Just to add to the reasons to not waste my time at this place again, their martini, whiskey and port list was 2 pages long without a single price listed. No way to tell if the lower-shelf whiskeys would be the same price as an 18 yr old single malt. I find such tactics classless. It places the customer in the position of asking "how much is the cognac?" and then repeating, one by one, trying to discern if there is anything of value on the list. Why? This is Middleton WI, not midtown Manhattan, NY!!!
(2)Tina Z.
Johnny's is located in West Madison in a newer section of town. It is easy to find and there is plenty of parking. The decor is beautiful, this would be a great date night spot. The food is higher end Italan. The salads they offer before your meal are goat cheese or ceasar, i think they also have the traditional salad as well. I had a wonderful angel hair pasta with scallops, it was absolutely delicious. The prices are average for the quality of food and i am a fan. The service was also excellent. This is a great spot and I will definatley return when i visit Madison again.
(4)Dianne H.
Yuck, just spent $35 for a lousy spinach salad, a side of bread and a glass of wine. The salad dressing was gross. The dressing had separated and was more of a jelly. I will not be back.
(1)Alison K.
Sigh. It pains me to write this. I have eaten at Johnny's before, and the food was great, and the service good. However, tonight I ate there alone, and sat at the bar. Considering that I was within eye and earshot of the two bartenders the entire time, the service was really poor. There were two bartenders. One was older, the other younger. The older one seemed to only be servicing the wait station, where the servers picked up their drinks. The younger one seemed to be covering the entire length of the bar himself. When I sat down, sort of close to the wait station, the older one said 'hi' to me, but never asked me if he could get me a drink, offered me a menu, or anything else. It was close to 10 minutes before the younger guy acknowledged me and brought me a menu. Then, I had to wait a long time before he came to get my order. And, again I had to wait a long time for him to take my dinner order. I saw this same scenario repeated with two different couples that were seated around me during my time there. Each time, the older guy either acknowledged them but didn't offer them a drink, or ignored them altogether, and then they waited quite a while before the younger guy got to them. In one case, the younger guy got the order of the man in the pair, but never asked the woman what she wanted and it wasn't until their pager went off to notify them that the table was ready and he brought them their bill that she said 'I never got a drink!' His response was a sort of gruff 'Well, what did you want???'. Both bartenders need some significant training. They need to know the menu better, then need to understand how to prioritize and work the bar better, they need to know how to SMILE and acknowledge their customers better. Johnny's food was excellent, but the service? Extremely disappointing.
(3)Deb G.
Amazing steaks! Had the filet medallion trio and was a wonderful variety of tastes with the crusted toppings. The bone in ribeye was what my friend ordered and it was cooked to perfection at rare to medium rare, as ordered. My side of asparagus was under cooked & hard - older stalks. The garlic mashed potatoes were very garlicky & creamy. Waiter (John) was very knowledgable and very pleasant. Definitely returning here when in Madison again!
(5)Rebecca M.
Looking for a slightly upscale, perfect for a date night, somewhat lounge-y and yet romantic restaurant? Look no further than Johnny's Italian Steakhouse. I love a good steak house and this place is no exception, the menu is typical for a steak house but with an Italian flair. Add in the Rat Pack influences: huge martini list, music, and artwork. This place is just something really special. I loved dinner here so much that I think I'll need to heed other reviewers advice and stop in for Sunday brunch next time!
(5)Huma S.
Great food and perfect evening! I love the Salmon Fiorintino, delicious every time and the portions are big, I had half of it for lunch the next day. We also enjoyed the Zucchini fries....yummy! Lovely ambiance for a date night or if you just need a night to kick back and enjoy some great food!
(5)Jen Y.
Terrible service, average food and high prices...! We went late one night with a reservation and it wasn't too crowded but it took forever for our waiter to come. Then when he did come we asked for a specific type of wine and he had no idea if they had it and had to go and check. It took a good 10 minutes for him to come back and say yes they did have it so we went with it and placed our order about 20 minutes after sitting and waiting hungry. I had an odd goat cheese salad with flavorless breaded fryed goat cheese, 2 pieces of apples and lettuce that appeared to be the Dole bagged salad blend. Nice iceburg and dried up shredded carrots. My husband had the lasagnae which wasn't fully cooked. Aunt had a decent chicken parmesan and uncle had a seafood dish that he enjoyed. The absolute worst part though was where we were seated... this place is big enough and all but we were sat right next to the kitchen door so the bright lights of the kitchen blinded me every 2 minutes when the waiters/waitress came in/out (but suprisingly never our waiter - who knows where he was!). That wouldn't have been too bad but they kept yelling and screaming back there and dropping (or thowing - it was strange). It was very difficult and I'm not sure I wanted to know what was going on back there. I don't like to hear screaming coming from a kitchen!!!
(1)Mad M.
- Wine selection: 3 stars - Wine sampling: 5 stars (more than just the regular 1sip-to-tease-you, you actually get a two mouthful sips tastes if you want to sample any wine by the glass) - Wine temperature: 2 stars (pinot noir was on the warm side) - on t
(3)Andrew M.
Really enjoyed the atmosphere/vibe/feel of the place. Very comfortable, not too loud, and nice low level light. I enjoyed the fresh bread. It was warm & soft but there was no butter on the table, just olive oil which is fine by me but my wife kind of wanted butter. House salad was just OK. Had a $2 up-charge for a Caesar salad that might have been worth it because the house didn't do much for me. They have a decent wine selection. Ordered a glass of Red Rock (I think that's what it was) Merlot that I really enjoyed. It looked like the menu had MANY Martinis to pick from. We all had pasta that we enjoyed so I really can't review any of the steaks... sorry. I'd definitely try the place again.
(4)Don W.
Nice atmosphere, friendly efficient staff. No bread as the menu said. Steak was so-so as was the shrimp. Great garlic mashed but so what? Average food, overpriced.
(2)Sharon P.
We eat at Johnny's for my son's birthday and when we want something a little special. The bread and olive oil are to die for, my Malbec wine is usually very good, the shrimp appetizer is by far the best I have had, the filet and porterhouse steaks are excellent, the music is great, the service is very good, and the desert is always just what you would want it to be. Enjoy!
(5)Robert T.
So where do I start? I guess....ok, we went to Johnny's Italian Steakhouse with a couple of friends for dinner on New Years Eve. Now at the time I had no idea this place was a chain but the menu looked good so we went and it was a quaint little place. Immediately I noticed our waitress had no idea what she was doing and was not very skilled at her job. Also the place was very dark and one thing that bothered me was the lack of pepper on the table. (after asking a couple times they brought us out an old pepper shaker from the back that hardly worked as opposed to the ground pepper shakers that the other tables had) We ordered our appetizers and they were actually quite good. The calamari and the roma tomato salad had great flavor and hit the spot. To add to the good night, the salads were good too! But along came the entrees...ugh. My steak was just "ok" at best with garlic mashed potatoes that were pre-made, hard, and old. I also had shrimp stuffed with crab that came with my steak and...gross! I was so not happy with my meal at all. I wanted great and got...blah. Now, the point that made this review a two star and not a three star is our waitress. My wife is allergic to crab and ordered the Chanel No. 5 pasta. One of our friends ordered a seafood pasta (that had crab) and the waitress could not tell the two apart when delivering them to us. I am sorry but a screw up like that with a food allergy on a 7 month pregnant women would be quite big. Luckily enough we searched through the meals and figured it out. Overall, I did not like my food and will not be going back.
(2)Scott C.
Was on a business trip for work. The company that operates this restaurant is based in the Midwest and do a great job with food and hotels. I came in about 8pm and sat at the bar. I asked the bartender about some local brews and was immediately sampled 3 or 4 'tastes' and found my favorite! She knew her menus and products well. I had the French Onion Soup and a Ribeye Steak with Bleu Cheese topping - Cooked perfectly and well flavored. I'll be back!
(4)Frank S.
Best martini in Madison--cold, dry,with crisp, fresh olives. Chicken Parmigiana is outstanding. Lighting is a bit muted for easy reading of their menus, but wait staff is always professional with the proper level of attention. The shrimp Frangelico salad is a winner. Interesting choice of sauces on their signature steak dishes.
(4)C T.
Service was ok but food and atmosphere were excellent! Will definitely be back!
(4)H I.
Very average, will not be back, there's better food out there for less.
(1)A L.
YUCK, don't order the spinach salad. It was dry (no dressing) and so not worth the price. I had a lot of wilted spinach leaves. All the sundries tomatoes, bacon, and egg was at the bottom. The baked potato soup was ok, could have been warmer. I'm here in town for work and came to the restaurant on the hotels recommendation. Maybe their other food is better. I was expecting high end salad as the restaurant looks nice.
(1)Ellen H.
Don't eat there if you are alone. Should have been better service, the room on the right was closed. Really crappy service and dry fish.
(1)B B.
You are much better off going to one of the local steak places like Tornado Room or Smoky's than this chain restaurant. The food was sub-par for the price. For example, the salad tasted identical to the cheap pre-made bag of salad you buy at Copps, right down to the shredded, dried-up carrots. Mine even had ice crystals in it, meaning they probably put on the plate the day before and the refrigerator was too cold. Yuck! Next, my steak was described on the menu to have a light crust of parmesan cheese. I thought, hmmm.. interesting idea to balance the beef fat with a little salty dry cheese. What came out? A 1/4 inch thick layer of parmesan cheese baked onto my steak. Come to think of it, everything was just way over-the-top with seasonings, cheese, butter, cream, etc. I couldn't taste potatoes in the hash browns. I tasted mass amounts of cheese and sour cream. The service was very attentive and quick. However our waitress kept trying to up-sell just about every course - i.e. would you like to upgrade your salad to a caesar for another $2? would you like to add shrimp to your steak for another $5? That's pretty tacky when you are buying a $25 entree. I had clients with me and felt like I'd taken them to TGI Fridays.
(2)Alex S.
Spinach Salad was the best part. If you go with a party less than 6, be prepared to have snail type service. Thinking about a refill on your drink, be prepared to be dehydrated. Want more bread, not happening. Don't think I'll be comming back to his place.
(2)C M.
Going to Johnny's OK, it's like going to Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse or any other dependable chain restaurant. The food and service will be formulary. It's a good place for a night when you are not into taking any risks, and just want a warm meal.
(3)Morgotha K.
Literally the worst service I've ever. My ribeye steak was bland, caesar salad was fine, and the bread was good... not good enough to eat there though. Avoid this place like the plague unless your idea of a good time is feeling like you're being held hostage in a restaurant.
(1)P K.
Was in town for training session. Restaurant had a nice atmosphere with dim atmospheric lighting. We chose the brushcetta with shrimp for our complimentary appetizer. Nicely toasted bread with cheese, tomato & onion, and topped with two half pieces of shrimp. Was able to order a cranberry and soda as I wasn't drinking this nice, but could have used more ice and the soda was a little flat. My dining partner enjoyed her dirty martini. I ordered the sirloin steak medium rare and garlic mashed potatoes. Potatoes were good as was steak. My partner ordered the charbroiled rib eye medium. She said it was cooked well. The salad however looked like it had come straight out of the bag and the house dressing was rather blah. Multiple wait staff seemed to be working with trainees tonight. Restaurant got busy and the waitstaff left us alone for a bit to eat. They did come back and ask us if we wanted refills on our drinks. They did not have a problem with split checks.
(3)Daniel R.
Absolutely amazing food. I had shrimp minelli and that was the best fetuccini pasta i had in my life. I have to say great service an very pleasant atmosphere. 5 stars and will definitely recommend it to anyone.
(5)Miinkay Y.
Service was great. No complaints there. The appetizer of a shrimp cocktail was bland. I had a seafood pasta which was alright. The scallops were a bit over cooked probably because the pasta was hot and kept cooking it after it was sauteed. Food was not really worth the price with all the aforementioned hiccups.
(2)Morgan T.
My boyfriend took me here during Restaurant Week this year and I have to say it was only an "ok" experience. The atmosphere was nice and the service was good, but the the food was only ok despite the numerous rave reviews I have gotten. We ordered martinis and the Betta Bruschetta, which were delicious. However my Basilico Angel Hair was so garlicy I could barely eat it and the noodles were overdone. I ended up eating most of the bread that was on the table instead. We ordered the Grasshopper Bon Bon's for dessert and they were very good. Overall, I was disappointed especially for the price. There are much better steakhouse's like Ruth's Chris for the money.
(3)James H.
Very much worth a return visit. We had the veal Sinatra and the veal parmigiana, and reveled in them. Lobster bisque and asian salad were huge, and we wound up with three doggie boxes. No dog, cat, nor even a gourmand iguana was likely to wrest any of them from us. Justin, our server, was personable and fun amidst a bar full of loud, local high school reunionists. Very satisfied.
(5)Abhijit G.
My wife and I popped in one afternoon for lunch....and were pleasantly surprised with the quality of food. I had the BEST EVER salad...like ever!...it's called the Johnny's spinach salad and you can order it as a side with ur steak. The wife ordered french onion soup and teriyaki salmon, both excellent!. The steak was nice and juicy....and btw, don't forget to get ur steaks oscar style (whatever that means) simply because they come with the most amazing piece of crab-cake EVER! One star off for adding 2 extra dollars on our bill. I am sure they would have taken it off had we brought it to their notice....but we didn't want to make a scene.
(4)Fei X.
Excellent service and cozy interior. The food was amazing.
(4)Arthur S.
Grade: C+ I was hoping for more considering what I paid. Great service and a very nice looking place.
(3)Dave J.
Terrific service, good quality food and very clean. Best steak around for under $30.00. Ignore the first reviewer, Patric T, if you look over his 130 reviews I don't think he gives more than 3 stars to any meal that costs over $7.00. DEFINITELY GO HERE, SERVICE AND FOOD ARE TERRIFIC.
(5)Getafix O.
Went here for dinner last night. Service was excellent and the Filet Oscar was also great. Ordered the calamari for appetizers and it was far too salty.. that was the only negative here.
(4)Madison K.
Pros for our visit: Prompt service on a Saturday night, décor, noise level allowed for conversation, check was correct. Cons for our visit: Food quality uneven, No extra effort by staff, facilities. The recent visit to this establishment (which my wife was looking forward to trying) resulted in a dinner that will be forgotten by next weekend. The staff was mostly courteous to us and our party of three were seated almost immediately on a Saturday night. The wait staff was attentive, but did nothing to extend themselves beyond what they expected to do. Ex. This place does not have a beer list and I was not in the mood for wine. When questioned, the server was able to recite the available tap beers and indicated they had additional bottled beers. "What was I interested in?" After 3 local beer choices they did not have on hand based on his memory of their selection, I got a Pepsi product. The house salad was ok, but only one person at the table specified a dressing and both of us received the same dressing on our salads. The Spinach Salad was ok - good and the accompanying bread was flavorful but had the soft consistency of cotton balls. Our entrées were of mixed reviews as well. Our friend enjoyed her Pesce Basilico (freshwater tilapia fillet). My wife felt her Salmon Fiorintino tasted a bit off and was probably beyond the cooks ability to make the flavors turn out as a harmonious dish. I chose a basic Chicken Parmigiano. It was simply ok. The chicken pounded into a schnitzel thickness, breaded and a bit over cooked, was very smothered in a marinara sauce with a slab of Mozzarella. It's biggest downfall is too much of the toppings with no real Parmesan flavor. The deserts were ok as well. The small molten center Chocolate Cake was as described with an accompanying intense cinnamon ice cream; while the Grand Marnier Chocolate Mousse seemed to be made with Milk Chocolate instead of Dark Chocolate and came layered with whipped cream in a glass mug. As for the physical establishment: We enjoyed the décor and appreciated the low enough noise level that allowed us to converse easily. However both the ladies and gentlemen's facilities were not on the same level (out of soap, overflowing waste bins, dirty floors and non flushing fixtures are not acceptable at any time for a restaurant). Of course all of these issues could have been resolved if we chose to make an issue out of them and forced the staff to do more than they had to or if we went out of our way to change the outcome. I could have walked to the bar and made the bar tenders list the beers they did have until a suitable one was found. We could have sent the incorrectly dressed salad back for another. Repeatedly requested them to re-fill our water glasses and drinks; and there was more I could comment on, but we were out for the night with our friend and that was the important part.
(2)John B.
Nice menu selection and friendly well trained staff make for a pleasant dining experience.
(4)Jason M.
Not a fan of this place. It does look nice, but the food sucks. I ordered the filet and it was low quality with vegetables drenched in butter. My date had a salmon pasta and that tasted horrible as the salmon was very fishy. Tiramisu was average. Don't go here.
(2)