Biagio's Bistro

Came here for dinner with my mother after visiting some festival nearby. The restaurant itself is small, but not uncomfortably so. It wasn't too busy, and we got in rather quickly. The atmosphere was amazing, the decor was quite charming, and the layout was in such a way where you could see the chefs cooking from the front of the restaurant. As for the food, I got tomato soup and salad, and we both got a plate of pasta as well. The tomato soup was creamy and delicious, the salad was quite refreshing, and the pasta was perfectly al dente, with exquisite sauces and such. Not to mention, the portion sizes for the pasta were huge, so we had plenty to take home as well. Finally, we ended our meal with a dessert. We got the tiramisu. Sweet, light, creamy, and delicious. I'll say, no Italian food will ever beat the food in Italy itself, but if you can't afford the trip to Italy, this may be the next best place to go for good Italian cuisine.

I’ve been to many places around the world. In fact I’m currently visiting Cincinnati and picked this place based on the inflated Google reviews. This place, at best, deserves a 3/10. The atmosphere is dingy and run down, food is bland, lacking any real effort, quality, nor taste. The best thing about this place was the waitresses attempt at providing good service. I left her a $10 tip on a ~$40 check to exemplify that. The rest, honestly - find somewhere else to dine. Don’t believe the reviews. Cincinnati deserves better. Attaching photos for proof.

We picked Biagio's for our twin's 21st Birthday dinner. It fell on a Tuesday and we were looking for something special, locally owned, with an intimate setting. We called ahead and the table was ready for us when we arrived. The minute we walked in, we knew we picked the right place. The parking was easy on the street out front. The restaurant is like walking into a secret. The aroma is rich and authentic, and the decor is comfortably elegant. We were well taken care of, without being rushed. The food and wine was outstanding! The dessert was fabulous! We really appreciate the experience we had and the service we received. You only get one shot celebrating that birthday dinner, and fortunately we made a perfect memory! Looking forward to going back soon.

Bagio's is a classic long time gaslight Clifton Italian restaurant located in the Ludlow business district straight across from the Clifton market. The owner/chef works there everyday. You may be able to park on the street, but it's easy to park in the merchants lot located on Howell avenue behind Clifton market and then cut up between the buildings. They are open for lunch and dinner. The chef Cooks the meals on open burners in front of the restaurant and it's fun to sit and watch him cook. He has classic pasta dishes and some really delicious tomato basil soup and wedding soup. He is very accommodating if you would like to order something special. My wife had all vegetables with no pasta and some grilled fish on the side. She loved it. Last night, I had the special which was beef tenderloin with pasta on the side. It went down great with a glass of their house red wine. The desserts are absolutely incredible. I love the chocolate eclair Puffs. Last night I had the banana cream pie which was outstanding. This is a great little romantic Italian restaurant with a European flair located in the heart of Clifton. You can go there with your honey or take the family or group of friends. It's moderately priced and a great little authentic Italian restaurant.

Fabulous experience! My friend and I stopped in for dinner Saturday evening and were able to sit right away. I had the shrimp alfredo and she had the special, filet with gorgonzola linguini, both with a caesar salad. Both entrees were delicious and large portions, we took our leftovers to go. Of course we couldn’t say no to dessert so we each had a cannoli and I took home the crown jewel of coconut cream pies. Our server was so sweet and attentive, we really appreciated all of the waitstaff. Everything was so good, 100% recommend!

If you are looking for a great homemade pasta joint look no further. The food tasted fresh and tasty. Service was excellent. The desserts were awesome.

We entered the place, and I saw a man cooking the best pasta I could describe. We were seated instantly, the menu was short and sweet, which made it easier to make the decision. When the food arrived, the quantities were huge, awesomely tasty and also priced nicely. This has been one of the best Italian restaurants I have had. By the way, the cook is also the owner. Which only makes it so much better and personable.

Great food and great service. We had both (delicious) specials: filet with pesto cream sauce and the meat lasagna. Both were outstanding! Our servers were delightful. Watching the chef and owner make each dish with care creates a very unique and special experience.

Everything here is top notch! Great food, great service and cozy ! Also the homemade desserts and to die for. Truly one of my go to's. You'll love it !

Food was amazing. Top notch service , extremely attentive.. Ambiance was intimate, old world.

Meh. I've lived in Clifton for 13 years and have only been here twice for a reason. The first time was years ago when a server messed up the tip I gave and double-tipped themselves. The management straightened it out the next day, but I remember telling myself I wouldn't go back. Fast forward to 2025 and I let a friend talk me into going again. This was disappointing from start to finish. We seated ourselves in a window seat on a really slow Thursday afternoon/evening, and it took our server a strangely long time to come to the table after we received water. I normally might not notice, but the place was kinda dead, so it was weird. When the server finally comes to the table she looks at us and says, "Been waiting long? So do you want a drink?" I was stunned. No, "hi, welcome to Biaggio's, my name is Susie-Q. Have you dined with us before? Would you like to hear our specials? Is this your first time?" Nada. None of the customary niceties you expect when heading out to eat. We weren't very hungry, just peckish, and had decided to split an appetizer and get some soup before walking the neighborhood. Apparently this was an issue for our server who said, "You're not gonna get an entree?" after we ordered. If disdain had a tone, she absolutely used it. We politely declined as I ordered from my dirty menu (there were bits of someone else's food smeared across the top) and settled in. The meal was just so-so: * there's nothing special about the bread, just run of the mill small slices * there's nothing special about the butter, just margarine in cheap little plastic packets * the pasta pearls in the soup were overcooked (they'd clearly been sitting in a broth all day) * the spinach artichoke dip had a mealy texture (like the proportions of mayo/cream cheese/asiago were either off or a cheap brand of something was used because it didn't melt completely/properly) and there was an overly-brine-y taste (like they use canned artichokes). Our server "forgot" to bring us the olive oil and balsamic we requested when the bread was first served, and rarely spoke directly to us. Anything we asked for she'd walk away from the table and respond with her back turned as she walked away. At one point she said, "Oh, you could have had him bring you that," in reference to the oil and vinegar we'd requested that she'd promptly forgotten (another server had just dropped off our soups and we asked for our server so we could get the old and vinegar to go with the bread). When it was finally time to leave, our server FINALLY tried to strike up a conversation with us...on our way out the door. Nobody wants to talk to you about the weather after you've spent the past 30-40 minutes behaving like it's a hassle to serve them on a slow night. Who knows? Maybe being in our workout clothes wasn't reflective of the clientele they wish to serve, but I've walked by this establishment 2-3 times a day almost every day for more than a decade and seen plenty of people NOT turning up in their Sunday best. Who knows? Maybe we didn't have a big enough ticket for her to care about good customer service? Perhaps she could SENSE her tip would be generous, so why bother with good service? I tipped exactly 11% at the end of the meal and my friend was appalled. Being Black I felt the pressure to leave SOMEthing, even if it wasn't deserved, because I didn't want to contribute to her treating the next Black folks in her section some kind of way. All in all, I walked away happy we only spent $25 and realizing I'd have been better off getting a can of Campbell's Italian wedding soup, making my own spinach artichoke dip, and snagging some artisan ciabatta bread from the grocery store. Or just going to Arlin's for a burger and fries. Either way...meh.

This place is fabulous ! Reminds me of being in Europe -food , ambience and service!! All wonderful!!! I always get the filet special and whatever pasta it comes with!

We had a great meal at Biagio's Bistro last night. The portions were very large and the food was served hot. It was a very nice atmosphere for a Saturday night. We will return.

I used Yelp to find an Italian restaurant that I hadn't been to before, and I certainly agree with the numerous 5-star reviews. We chose to sit in the booth at the front, but there are two dining rooms, as well as high tops that look into the open kitchen, where the magic happens. We both started with a nice Caesar salad, although garlic croutons would have been a welcome replacement for the plain dried bread cubes. They were nicely crunchy, though. A plate of chewy Italian bread with butter (nicely soft) accompanied the meal. My date had fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, with a cream-heavy sauce. I had the chicken scaloppini, which was nicely poached in a mushroom white wine sauce, served over fettuccine (homemade). We both took some home, so she could have crème brûlée, and I had limoncello torte. Both of us were happy with our choices from the well-stocked dessert cooler.

This was a fantastic little bistro we found in the Ludlow region of Cincinnati. While they have a more elaborate dinner menu we were there for lunch and while the menu is smaller there are still plenty of great options. We started with an appetizer of Artichoke Dip. It artichokes blended with garlic and topped with parmesan cheese. It is baked and served with pita pieces. It was one my favourite dips of it's kind that I've ever had and was a super delicious appetizer. For my main course I tried their Chicken Alfredo which was a basic version with fettuccine, chicken, with the cream sauce and of course topped with Parm. A very good version of Alfredo that was fairly easy on the wallet too. The restaurant was very spiffy looking; kind of smallish but very classy. Our service was excellent and when you put it all together it was a tremendous visit.

I wish this place was good. It's cute, they make their own pasta, and they cook it right there. Except it's not. We got the "most popular dish" which was essentially a carbonara of sorts. My husband got a seafood pasta. It was the very definition of meh. Pasta was no better than dried, sauce was lacking, seafood was murdered in the pan. Our bill was about $80 with tip and a drink apiece. I took mine home because it was expensive but it wasn't even worth eating the next day. I really wanted to like this place. Olive Garden would've been a better choice.

Food was incredible. Had the Shrimp Fettuccini but started with the Italian Wedding Soup. I love Italian wedding soup and this was one of the best ones I've ever had. The service was extremely attentive and personable. The restaurant was quiet and a good temperature. Amazing experience!

Delicious food! The friendliest staff. Generous portions. My first cannoli was amazing!!!

Food and service were both great. Our whole group was very happy with our pre-concert family dinner.

It's a nice looking place and it's bigger than I expected. It was odd because the guy doing the cooking took the first table, added an office chair, his laptop, half eaten banana, and several styrofoam cups, and sat there almost the entire time except when he had to get up to make our food. The service was good. The food reminded me of the pasta bar at the Marriot. Not terrible, but definitely not a $20 pasta dish. Especially since it was topped with the good Parmesan. You know, the one in the round canister with the green lid. Haha It's probably a good spot for neighborhood regulars but I wouldn't go out of my way again.

I cannot believe as often as I am in Clifton I just discovered this place. Very reasonable prices, Biagio does all the cooking and the barramundi was delicious. I will be back for sure!

Decent food, nothing outstanding in appetizers, entrees and desserts. Low rating due to v poor table service and v low energy of wait staff. (They kinda look miserable.) The collection of used dishes, glasses, empty bottles on the table when we finished was impressive! But not in a good way.

Lasagna (available on Fridays, not sure about other days) was delicious, cream of tomato soup was very tasty also. Chicken Alfredo was very good too.

The best local Italian I've had in a long time. I'm from here and our go-to has to be Biagio's Bistro for quiet, perfectly prepared pasta. Chef's Kiss!

Came here for my first date 5 years ago and just returned. The staff was incredible and the food was delicious. We enjoyed a chicken dish with a glass of wine and salad. We can tell the chef takes pride in his work due to the burst of various flavors in every bite. With the extra touch of freshly ground pepper and cheese, you cannot go wrong. We finished the night with an in house made banana cream pie which has turned into our new favorite dessert. Don't miss this place

The service was good, everyone was nice. I love that garlic dip. I like the chef cooking in front of the restaurant.

Huge portions, great food, and amazing prices...with bread and salad included (choice of Greek, Caesar or House). Great service, too. Classy clientele.

Wonderful homemade pasta dishes. In a cozy dining room. Watch as biagio cooks in the open kitchen. Terrific desserts as well

This restaurant seemed to be a re-creation of an Italian bistro in every way -- it has a limited menu, but what the restaurant offers, it excels at. The appetizer, an artichoke dip, was a tribute to Parmesan cheese and garlic. The tomato basil soup was exemplary -- so much that I was pretty full by the time the main dish arrived -- but definitely found room for it. All the pasta was home-made -- thick, fresh, and held the homemade sauce well. I had one of the daily specials -- fish and pasta -- and the fish was fresh and well-cooked. Plus a great intimate atmosphere. The service was excellent -- we were a large group and the waiters and waitresses went out of their way to help. All in all, a wonderful full dining experience!!

Quaint and charming. Our table ordered a pasta dish, Greek salad, tilapia , and wedding soup. Food was delish. Atmosphere quaint and charming. Sam was our waiter and he was great ... all other employees were very attentive. Oh and the food all came out PIPING HOT and together ....

We tried this place in a Friday night and were expecting a wait, but even though it was busy we were able to get a table right away. Service was prompt and speedy. What I loved most about the experience was the restaurant ambiance! It felt very cozy and homey as if I were coming to a family dinner. I ordered the chicken scallopini and my fiancé ordered the pesto chicken pasta. Portion sizes were perfect and flavor was great! It was a fun bonus that we could watch Biagio cook our meals right next to us. Of course, we can't forget the wine or the desserts! There was a great selection of wine and pricing was incredibly reasonable - probably the cheapest glass in the city, but without sacrificing quality. We took dessert to go because we were too full at the end of our meals, but we couldn't pass up the dessert case all together. I got the cannoli and my fiancé got the chocolate cake. Both were amazing! The cannoli had a perfectly crispy shell with a slight cinnamon flavor and the filling was luscious and smooth. The chocolate cake was rich and dense - exactly what I want in a chocolate cake. All in all, I would definitely come back and will keep this in our regular rotation! The ONLY drawback is that parking is very difficult, but it's worth the struggle in my opinion.

Ate here first the first time. Seated right away and we were given bread and ice water promptly. Olive oil for the bread would have been a nice touch especially being an Italian restaurant. Our server was good. Wine was very reasonably priced. We all had the Caesar salad with anchovies. I had the Branzino fish special. Over cooked and thin. Asked for lemon for the fish and got one slice. Not even a wedge! Pasta was not seasoned at all. My husband liked the chicken scalloping with vegetables instead of pasta. He liked it. Restaurant filled up after we arrived. They take reservations. We took cannolis home they were delicious.

Good Italian. Housemade pasta. Quick and friendly service! Have been several times. The chicken Alfredo is always a winner. As is the Penne. Portions are huge, so bring your appetite or prepare to take some home.

Fantastic Lunch. This was my second visit. I'm hooked. The tomato basil soup is to die for. We had the Chicken Scallopini. The portions are huge. And, absolutely delicious. There is definitely enough to enjoy again at home. Tiramisu for dessert was yummy and shareable. Last visit i had cannoli and would not share. Service was impeccable and friendly. I was just a very nice lunch.

Good great! Service slow but worth it. Be prepared to stay awhile. Great ambiance Aroma hits you when you walk in. Makes for a great evening but go when you have the time

It took me awhile to get here but a friend recommended it. He also said the pies were some of the best he'd ever had. Went here and it was not disappointed! I had the special the day which was a sea bass with gnocchi in a white sauce. Was very delicious! My friend had the pesto pasta which she said was okay. But I think this place still deserves five stars because my dish was amazing, the service was great, and overall the pies were some of the best I've ever had. Literally, the banana cream pie was the best. Sorry grandma, someone has a better pie than you. But that's okay because that just means the world keeps getting better! We went on a Wednesday night and it wasn't too busy. Overall it was very cute and romantic and definitely a place to go to again!

Cozy and enjoyable spot for lunch with a friend. Very fresh salad and bread to start. I had the chicken Alfredo, and it was delicious - very rich, noodles were cooked perfectly. Service was attentive and friendly. They had some very tempting desserts in the case upfront - I look forward to coming back and trying more things on the menu.

It is a great authentic Italian bistro. Everything was delicious! We had Artichoke dip for appetizer - full of flavor Entrees come with soup or salad. I chose Greek salad - another good choice. My choice of entree was Chicken Scallopini in the picture. I love capers and it got lots of caper in on top of chicken and mushrooms. They've got good selections of dessert that we were torn to choose what to get even we were so full. We had to try at least one. Our choice was Tiramisu and we chose wisely! This place may not look all so fancy but the service and the food was absolutely 5- !

Got their artichoke dip, tomato soup and chicken Alfredo. Artichoke dip was a bit garlicky but tasty... I wouldn't get the chicken as I think it was thighs and I think breast should be used. The bread is not warm but soft and stuffy. My server Maryann was amazing and kind. Her presence was lovely and we had a nice brief chat. Italian Wedding Tomato Basil Tomato Basil Tomato Basil Tomato Basil Tomato Basil Tomato Basil Artichoke Dip Artichoke Dip

We came for dinner before going to Clifton Performance Theatre. You could pass by the outside if you didn't know it was here. The interior is nice and simple. Loved rewarding the history of the restaurant. My husband got the salad with shrimp on it. The shrimp was prepared perfectly - not too much oil. Our son got a Caesar salad - he liked a lot and a tuna sandwich. I was shocked about the sandwich since he loves Italian food. I got the tilapia dinner that comes with a salad. The house salad was great and I got the dressing on the side. Their garlic dressing is made in house - you can tell. They should sell it! It's great!! The tilapia is pan seared - cooked very well with vegetables and then home-made fettuccini. The dinner made 3 meals. The pasta was great. But, too much oil!!! That's why the 4/5

Biagio's is my go to when I want some authentic Italian cuisine. I've been countless times and have never been disappointed. ALWAYS be sure to check and see what the special is. You've got a life long customer here.

After receiving a recommendation and checking out the reviews, I was excited to try Biago's Bistro. We stopped in on a Monday night after seeing a movie. We each ordered a salad- House and Caesar, and a pasta entree- Shrimp Alfredo and Chicken Scallopini. The actual pasta in the dish was fresh and had great texture. Portions were large and the service was fine. The proteins (shrimp and chicken) were not seasoned at all, however were cooked well. The sauce in both of the dishes was severely under seasoned- almost as if there was no salt at all, and the salt and pepper at the table did not assist much (pepper was stale and had zero flavor). The salads were sad (mine had a random string in it and a few tomato stems) and the bread was stale. I would have asked for additional parm or fresh ground pepper however I overheard the chef intimidating the wait staff and threatening the servers that he would scream at them during the dinner if anyone complained. The price point is comparable to other 4-5 star Italian places with none of the ambience, quality, or care. This place strikes me as something that was really special and has lost its touch.

Delicious! (As always) The best Italian restaurant in the Greater Cincinnati area. Check it out!

Ate here on Friday nite with a group of 9. Not a large restaurant, but they accommodated our group well in the back part of the restaurant. The kitchen is right there and visible to most patrons, so you can see your meal being cooked. We had some artichoke dip with pita for the table. I had a salad, some chicken vegetable soup and for an entree the tilapia with pasta. And tiramisu and capuccino for dessert. Portion sizes were generous and everything tasted great .The soup was the only miss--about half a bowl and too much broth--I wouldn't have even guessed what type of soup it was. But everything else was great. There was one minor glitch with my entree which was quickly corrected and apologies issued. Service was good. Prices are reasonable here for what you get. Ambiance is friendly. One of Clifton's gems and conveniently located. On street parking is available and there is also a lot about a block away behind the firehouse.

We were seated immediately and someone brought water and bread as shortly after. menus were shared and our waiter also asked if we would like to eat our meal family style and brought xtra plates for sharing. Very attentive service and friendly. Generous portions of delicious food- yummy! Only thing I would note is that the women's bathroom needs lighting- looks like they were doing some minor construction repairs. Would definitely come back!

Biagios is a small hidden gem in Clifton. It's an Italian restaurant with a family feel to it. We have been there numerous times. It is one of the top places I recommend when people are visiting Cincinnati. Biagio (owner) cooks the food in an open layout so you can watch him cook. The service is great and the food is fantastic! The daily special changes but is always the best whether it includes sea bass, steak, etc. I highly recommend it! It is a smaller restaurant so I would look at 8 or less people as a group. Recently, I had the petite filets special! So good!

Quaint space with friendly staff. Plentiful portions and homemade-tasting pasta. The artichoke dip was unreal, though a couple pasta dishes were a little shy on overall flavor.

Biagio's Bistro is one of my absolite favorite places to dine in Cincinnati. The sweet aroma of garlic fills the air, and if you pick a table close to the kitchen, you can watch your food being prepared. My go-to dish is the pesto pasta with chicken. Yum! It also reheats very well if you take home some leftovers. The Italian Wedding soup is excellent as a starter, though I'm partial to the Caesar salad. My husband has tried everything from the homemade baked lasagna to the Chicken Alfredo, and he is always pleased with his choice. Make sure you leave room for dessert, or at least take some home for later. Biagio's Balla -- cream puffs covered in chocolate -- are a must! Bon appetit!

I have never been disappointed with anything I have ordered here. My go to is pesto pasta and I don't care for pesto anywhere else. The lasagna on the weekends is out of this world, they almost always run out. I always get the greek salad and either the cannoli or cream puffs. The portions are large and the service is exceptional!

Great food & dining environment. I came here with my wife and some friends for a birthday dinner and have been back multiple times since. Highly recommend the Pesto Pasta and Penne Boscaiola. The service has been hit or miss, but nothing terrible when it missed.

Homemade everything. Taste homemade at least. The pasta taste like non gmo pasta raised in a two parent household, not like that store bought pasta raised on government cheese and tap water. Get the artichoke dip. It's the best artichoke dip in the city. I vouch for this like I vouch for Voss water. You won't be disappointed. Everybody I take here, LOVES the artichoke dip. Parking is a bih... I mean... it is Clifton. Oh well... what'd ya expect. But the food... chefs kids.. finish the meal off with some dessert. It's a wide variety. But I suggest the Oreo creme pie. It's heavenly. The chef is amazing. He's so welcoming and personable. This is a little mom and pop spot. Dining in is a whole vibe. Go here!

This is a great old school Italian restaurant. The food was fresh and full of flavor. The only problem was the filets were over cooked, but otherwise it was good. The artichoke dip was delicious, but only if you like garlic (which I do). We had a large group of 10 and the staff was very attentive and friendly. Even though we didn't have a direct sight line to see the chef cooking there were mirrors so we could still see him. This is a great place to go for traditional Italian food.

I love this place. The food is always great. The ambiance is low on key. The service is always attentive.

This is a sweet quaint restaurant, my Italian wedding soup was delicious. Service was excellent as well!

Wow, we just tried Biagio's as we are visiting from out of town and man was the food excellent! Service was top notch & the atmosphere was great.

I really wanted to give it 5 stars and I thought it was going to be a slam dunk when I walked in. There is a lovely buzz in the dining room, it has a hole in the wall sort of look when you walk in, and additionally they cook in front of you which I loved. Its classic italian food which is made fresh and prepared/finished on burners directly facing the dining room. My one complaint was both pasta dishes my wife and I ordered were quite underseasoned. We both found the dishes quite bland until we added some salt and pepper which helped immensely. Service was fantastic, and I think it was very reasonably priced as well Certainly since we visit ludlow frequently we will be back

The food was delicious! Service was outstanding. My granddaughter loved it. Special place for a nice evening out.