Ciao Mambo

The food is pretty good. It's a large menu and the service was good and food came quickly. We were told it would be a 40-50min wait to seat but only ended up being 15min which worked out though was pretty far off. It's probably the best Italian option in Billings and if you're in the mood for that it's worth the stop.

I will start off by saying, Amber was awesome as my server and the food was quite good and it made up for several lapses. When I came in to the restaurant it was loud with kids and no one greeted me or helped me for several minutes. When I was seated I did not receive a menu. Finally my server came and she rescued the experience. I had the Italian nachos. They were out of melon for one of their seasonal features I wanted. Then I ordered the sun dried tomato pasta. It was great. The wine was splendid. Overall, they could do a bit better from a service standpoint up front and have the kitchen a bit cleaner and more organized as you can dine at a bar right on it. Not a fan of the soapy water bucket on the table right where pizzas and apps are being made. Management and ownership could make a few small tweaks and have this place ROCKING.

If you're in Billings and craving incredible Italian food, Ciao Mambo on Montana Avenue is a must. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere pulls you in, warm, lively, and full of that classic Italian energy. The place has just the right mix of cozy and cool. I had the Steak Marsala, and it was absolutely amazing, tender, rich, and perfectly balanced with that deep, savory Marsala wine sauce. The garlic bread? Over-the-top delicious. Crispy edges, soft center, and packed with flavor. You’ll want to order extra. We also shared the Italian nachos, and they were outstanding, crispy, cheesy, and loaded with toppings that worked together like a well-rehearsed symphony. They’ve got a great beer selection on tap too. Maria went with the Streetfight, and it did not disappoint, bold, clean, and the perfect pairing for for her Ciopini meal. Service was excellent, friendly, fast, and made us feel like regulars. Bottom line: Ciao Mambo nails it. Amazing food, great drinks, and a vibe that makes you want to come back again and again.

I visit this restaurant every time I'm in town on business and I frequent their other locations when I'm in those towns on business. I love the food and that I can order what I want made as I prefer. Unfortunately, as a single woman business traveler, I'm often treated disrespectfully. Last night that was the case yet again. I was seated at a table. I sat for 10 minutes before anyone finally came and greeted me and filled my water glass. I was given no bread or offered bread until after my meal was delivered. I had ordered a glass of wine. My meal was delivered before my wine. I had hoped to sit and have a nice relaxing time, sipping wine and having a leisurely dinner. I would have ordered a second glass of wine but since I had to ask for my wine a second time after my meal was delivered, there was no opportunity to do that or enjoy the relaxing evening I expected. Felt like they wanted me to get up and leave as soon as possible. I am an excellent tipper always tipping at least 20% because I have waited tables in the past and I know it is a hard job. It wasn't overly busy so there was no reason for me to be ignored. I have visited the same location bringing two business colleagues and another time on a date and those times I received excellent service. Men sitting alone get doted on if not fawned over. Women sitting alone are ignored/snubbed. Change this because I'm about to give up on visiting your restaurant even though the food is good.

The restaurant was quite busy during the dinner hour. There was only a short wait to get a table and the food was excellent. The atmosphere is classy and the wait staff is very efficient and friendly.

The server was the best part of the meal. She had a lot of tables but was attentive to our table. We ordered dinner salads, Linguini Alla Carbonaro, Pasta Ravenna, Spumoni, and Cannoli. Both entrees were so over-sauced that they were not enjoyable. The salads and Spumoni were enjoyable.

Service was very good and staff were very attentive. Drink refills were offered multiple times without us needing to ask. Bruschetta appetizer was delicious and entrees were all very good as well. It was quite loud in the middle aisle where we were seated and our party had to lean in to hear one another, but I'd bet booth seats would not have been as noisy. Overall it was an enjoyable experience! We'll be back again.

I truly hate leaving a one star overall. ⭐️ THE FOOD WAS FANTASTIC, 5 star quality! ❤️ 📢📣However, it’s the loudest restaurant I’ve ever been in. The constant terrible cacophony created a migraine within 15 minutes, horrible indigestion which is something I’m unaccustomed to, and dreadful anxious feeling. 🤕🥴 So much so, I barely touched my main course. Asked for my food to be boxed and left as quickly as possible. Didn’t even finish my glass of wine. For my husband, a Combat Veteran it was even worse highly triggering for PTSD. Plus his tinnitus will be elevated for days! it’s impossible to have a conversation without yelling at someone who’s only across a 2 person table. It’s truly sad that the environment/atmosphere absolutely ruined a great meal. We will never eat inside Caio Mambo again. We may order takeout someday, but that’s not the same. Had truly hoped to find a great restaurant.

They accommodated our last minute group of 16 on a Su day night. The waitress was outstanding as she took all of our orders without a notepad or device. She got all of our orders correct. The food had great flavor, was hot (cold night) and was plentiful. If I am ever in Billings again, would not think twice about stopping there again.

The pasta dishes my family received were very good. The portions can feed a person 2 or 3 times. The service was great. You have a server and people topping off drinks. The atmosphere is cozy and quaint. Great for a family or romantic dinner. The restaurant is willing to accommodate vegetarian diets. CAUTION: Take cash. They charge a 2.5% surcharge if you use a card. We had a $400 birthday and the manager wouldn't waive or comp the surcharge. Final bill with the tip $500.

Space and atmosphere is nice. Bustling for a Friday evening. Service tonight was fine. Food was totally average. Garlic bread was lukewarm and very oily. Better in the past. Pasta cabornara was... meh. Cabornara should have pieces of guanciale fried and seared in a pan and then have pasta added. What they served seemed like pasta with onion strings on top. Not really sure this counts as a cabornara. Question for staff and management: are solo diners generally treated as a nuisance? Because my tab isn't as high as a couple or 4 top, does that affect things? I'm in and out; I tip well; and get the stress and craziness of the business. Don't dismiss me because I'm a party of one. Thanks

Great food and professional staff. Truly loved our meals, drinks, and the service. Two of our guests had fajitas and one had chicken en mole and we were all satisfied and well fed. Our leftovers made a great breakfast!

Heads up--get there a little early! We showed up around 4:45 p.m., just before opening, and there was already a line forming. As soon as the doors opened, we were seated right away. The service was great, our waitress was super friendly, made us feel welcome, and even helped us choose a few things from the menu. The atmosphere was really nice. You can see the cooks in the kitchen, which adds a fun energy to the place, and it's easy to have a good conversation without it being too loud or crowded. The inside is cozy but still feels modern and put-together. Now, about the food... it was okay. Honestly, I had really high hopes because so many people recommended this place. I ordered the penne alla vodka with grilled chicken. The sauce was tasty, but the chicken was overcooked and kind of tough, it didn't really work well with the pasta. I didn't say anything, just ate it, but it was a bit disappointing. My husband, who's definitely a foodie, had the Lulubella and made a similar comment-- he said it reminded him of a slightly upgraded Olive Garden. But the dessert? Amazing! We shared the Cannoli di Bacche and it was honestly the best part of the night. The huckleberry sauce was so good. I'd definitely come back just for dessert and a bottle of wine. It would be a perfect way to end the evening.

FOOD WAS AMAZING! best chicken parmesan I ever had! Mozzarella balls were delicious and the lemon cake was perfect! I cant rave about this place enough! Not only was food spot on, but service was exceptional as well; shout out to amber! Definitely will be back. Only Pic I had was soft the cake.

Don't do take out. Lousy wait time. Food is very good. When you offer take you should have person devoted to that service.

Unreal. Restaurant was 3/4 empty and the only place they wanted to sit us was by the LOUD open kitchen. Other diners were sitting elsewhere, but child hostess bumbled thru some excuses. We later called up and adult hostess "said" she would have sat us almost anywhere else. Child hostess should have checked with her boss before us leaving disappointed.

I went and took my mother and aunt to Ciao Mambo the day before Mother's Day, as I was enjoying my food, my enjoyment turned into disgust as I found a hair embedded in my Pasta Ravenna dish. I told the waiter and she was kind enough to take the meal off my receipt, But I would not come back again.

Went on a Wednesday night and not many people there. Food was good though over priced. Extra charges for additional bread which amazed me something started not long ago. Service was very slow and very disappointing. I doubt if I would go back anytime soon. There are too many restaurants just as good with better prices.

We saw good reviews to decided to try this restaurant on our road trip through Billings. The food was delicious. Nice salad and the pasta dishes my husband and I had were very good. We each had one glass of wine and the total was $70. Reasonable for a good meal.

My wife and I recently visited Ciao Mambo for our 11th anniversary. Love the decor and our entrees and dessert were excellent!!!! Our server, Piper, was very informative and knowledgeable about the menu when we asked any questions. Wasn't super expensive either compared to other Italian restaurants I have dined at. 10 out of 10 would recommend.

We love this restaurant. They do such a nice job. It's a fun, nice restaurant that is kid friendly and always delicious. They start you off with a lovely loaf of bread that just came out of the oven. Our waitress last night was Amber and she was very good. We never felt like we were being rushed and it did take us a while to decide what we wanted. I really recommend this restaurant if you're in the mood for Italian food. Thanks Ciao Mambo

The food was amazing and the service - after a difficult manner - was great. That's not where my issue lies. The Hostess was absolutely vile and rude to my family when we tried to be seated. She informed us that the we would be waiting 20-25 minutes for a table when we first walked in. She didn't ask us for a phone number and the restaurant didn't look full so we decided to walk around for 15 minutes before coming back. During this point when arriving at the restaurant I had a notification on my phone as we entered. It was time stamped when we asked the hostess for the wait time. We walked around and came back 18 minutes later - as according to the time stamp on my phone. When we arrived back at the restaurant the Hostess said that she gave our table away because we were late. Keep in mind again, she told us 20-25 minutes. We didn't even hit the expected time she told us. At this point the entire front room of the restaurant is empty. There is no one sitting at any of the tables there, there are only people in the middle section. She then proceeds to tell us that if we had given her a phone number like she asked she could have texted us. We inform her that she never asked for a phone number and we did not think this was an issue because we came back sooner than 20 minutes. She then leaves to talk to a waitress to 'see what she can do' and when she comes back she leads us to a secluded room in the back of the restaurant where we are not served for 15 minutes - these 15 minutes were timed as her attitude towards us was very rude and it felt weird that we were in an empty dining room after being told that she would try to 'squeeze us in'. After 15 minutes my mom goes to the hostess and asks if we can move as not only is no one serving us. but no one gave us water or bread and we were left alone in an empty room, the hostess informs her that it was our fault for not giving a phone number and that we should have come back on time. We did come back on time and we were never asked for a phone number. The hostess finally agrees to move us and she moves us to a table in the main room where we can clearly see that there were tables available, the Hostess was just being vindictive in placing us in that secluded room. When the Hostess comes over to give us our utensils and glasses she angrily threw them on the table and walked away. During this time I can visibly see the Hostess walking around to other wait staff and sneering while glancing and pointing at our table in what I can only assume is her way of letting the other wait staff know how much she does not like us. At this point I voiced my concern to my family about leaving. Never have I felt so cast out in this town as I did sitting at that table and watching the sneers and the bad looks from the Hostess and the wait staff she was talking to. We only decided to stay because my mom was visiting from out of town and had good experiences here beforehand as well as our new waitress who was so kind to us. Our new waitress was so kind and friendly with us. She was truly amazing. She even gave us an appetizer on the house as an apology. My issue is with the Hostess. To not only be malicious in seating us in an empty room but taking such a negative attitude with us for something that wasn't our fault is beyond me. And to top it off to see her so blatantly bad-mouthing us to other staff was abhorrent. I work a service job myself (7 years) and never have I taken such a rude attitude with a customer over a simple mistake such as forgetting to get a customers phone number. Like I said, the food was amazing. The waitress that was later assigned to our table was so sweet and understanding. But that hostess needs to learn some basic manners and etiquette for customer service. This was yesterday, 2/16 at 7 pm.

Great Italian food and very good service. It's a very popular place and they don't take reservations so getting in between 5 and 8:00 is nearly impossible if you don't arrive be 4:30 and a line always forms outside. I wish they would use a better system because I'm not one to want to show up early to be hopeful to get a table before the later evening times. This is more of a problem on Friday and Saturday nights but I've seen it happen on week nights too. My wife and I went there last Friday at 5:15 pm and the wait time was nearly 2 hours. Needless to say we didn't stay and people were waiting outside on a chilly winter evening because the waiting area is rather small. As far as conversation during dinner, it gets a little noisy when they're at their busiest times but that wouldn't keep me from dining there. The quality of the food and good service is well worth it.

Excellent Ciopinno! Great service and atmosphere. Cocktails are very well prepared. Check out the wonderful art inside. Did takeout once before dining in, the taste is better freshly prepared and served with a smile. So get off the couch and get your butt in there!

High quality Italian food with extensive menu. Casual atmosphere, consistent with the culinary culture. Service was attentive but expect taking time for this meal as everything is prepared fresh. No reservations except for parties 8 or more; often a line forms before their opening time of 5 pm.

The service was great and the starters are very good but the rest of the food wasn't amazing but it was good. The bread is really good! It is very busy and you probably need a reservation.

This is a great place when you can get in. It's popular because of the great food. Loud though! Food delicious and any white or red sauce can be substituted in any dish. But it's so difficult to get into even if you are there on time. I've been disappointed a few times because we couldn't get in and had to go somewhere else.

Great food with good portion sizes as well. If you're in town it's worth the stop. Love the desserts and appetizers.

Having a Sicilian heritage I was really looking forward to eating here. The reviews were good and I was really excited to check this place out. Upon arrival I parked in the lot next to the building. You walk past a small theater to get to the restaurant. It seemed very much like bing downtown Tacoma/Seattle, without all the homeless people and drugs. A good vibe. Walking in the place the smells were amazing. You can almost taste the sauce. The hostess took us to our table and seated us. The place was packed. Lots of large parties. The waitresses were definitely dressed to be attractive. The decor was fantastic. Lots of wine paintings and full bottles all around. Our waitress came back and took our order. She wrote her name upside down on the paper table mat. Reminded me of a Cucina! Cucina! She was super friendly and gave some good recommendations. I got the manicotti with the additional meatballs ($9). My wife got a pasta dish. She brought out some really bread and butter with sauce on the side. Dipping the bread in the sauce was like being at home. When the food came out I was a bit surprised. The manicotti shells were really small, maybe an inch in diameter and 4 inches long. The meatballs were about 2" wide. Overall the plate looked dismal and messy. There was parsley dusted all over. My first bite of the manicotti was actually good. The ricotta was creamy and had good flavor. The meatballs on the other hand were clearly frozen and super dense. I asked the waitress if they were fresh and she said they were made daily. I'll disagree with that statement. My wife really enjoyed her pasta and took the leftovers home. Overall it was a good meal. It was hard to hold a conversation with how loud everyone was. They need something on the walls to absorb the sound. I'd like to go back and give them another try if I'm back in town, but I'll probably find somewhere else to go.

Garlic Bread to die for! Great service and good food. Bring an appetite huge portions. Anna, our waitress, was very personable.

Have been here numerous times throughout the past 10 years and have never walked away disappointed. Last visit was February 25th with my friend for a fun ladies shopping weekend. I had the penne pasta a la vodka with chicken. Wine selection & food were so delicious!

Amazing service and excellent food! Our drinks were never empty, the food was absolutely delicious! We even left after dinner walked around then decided to come back to have dessert!

I like Ciao Mambo! Located in downtown Billings, there is plenty of parking available. We ordered a few things; the Italian nachos, spring rolls and I had a full on plate of farfalle (bow ties) with sun dried tomato, and mushrooms with chicken. Solid dish. Service was great as well - she was very hospitable and attentive. Ambiance was pretty chill for it being busy!

This place has really stepped up its game and one of the best meals I've had in Billings outside of my own kitchen. Wonderful service and great food. My family has a wonderful experience here and will be back!

Came here after gettung stuck in Billings. Food is tasty pasta was really good. I got the spicy pasta with italian sausage. It was not very spicy but great flavor and lots of italian sauage.

I love the garlic bread... so great dipped in marinara sauce. I had the eggplant parm several times over my week-long stay in Billings. I loved sitting at the bar watching the pizza makers throw the pizza dough. One of my favorite restaurants in Billings.

Pizza was great. Lasagna was great. Everything was great. We took the kids and my daughter declared it was her best birthday ever!

Beautiful spot in downtown. Service was sharp and quickly provided us our eats Food was top shelf. I recommend the eggplant with linguine and red sauce.

Been there twice , one year apart. Quality still there. Had GF pasta and regular Both great and these little "thin rolls of cheese as appetizer ". Really good. Good Italian wine selection.

There's nothing wrong with the service at Ciao Mambo. The wait staff are down-to-earth and ready to give advice. For me, the service was truly exceptional. The atmosphere is a combination of upscale and homey. It can either be a family-friendly place or a date-night spot depending on the time of day or the place you're seated. The kitchen staff keeps the food coming and the chef ensures consistency with the plates that come out of the kitchen. How do I know that? I had a front-row seat to watch the kitchen work its magic. The wine list has a nice mix of imported and domestic options available by the glass and by the bottle. There are price points for every budget. Food was somewhat disappointing given the buildup. Not to say that it as bad, it just wasn't as outstanding as the other elements of this place. The fettuccine all lulubella was good. The sauce was creamy and heavy and it was easy to taste the different flavors. After the first few bites though, the sauce became too heavy and started to congeal on the otherwise nicely cooked noodles. The leftovers didn't re-heat well. The tootsie roll appetizers were not what I was expecting, but they were very good. Expecting a roll, I received something closer to a crepe. The thin egg-roll wrapper barely contained the cheese filling. It was different and good. Definitely a fork-food. One of these is more filling than it appears and probably could be a meal in itself. Overall, Ciao Mambo did fine. It's an okay spot for satisfying an Italian food craving.

Food is fantastic. Great portions, bread was good to get you going. Staff friendly, kept drinks full. Very tasty and definitely recommend! Yum!

My absolute favorite place here and Whitefish MT. The Italian nachos are to die for. It's my request for every special occasion. Often hard to get seated right away but they do take out too so there's that.

Service was ok for a busy Friday night. The food was nothing special. Not saying it was bad but it was just another pasta dish and it was overpriced.

I love this place! If you want to substitute something (like artichoke hearts), they're more than willing to make a few changes! I love the Pasta Ravenna! It is delicious every time I eat it. Only weakness...they are crowded All Of the time, so make reservations, if possible!

Excellent classy restaurant and very tasty food highly recommended!! The help is extremely nice and considerate.location is great!! Bathroom is clean and kept up the whole place is just classy!!

This place is just OK. Flavor was lacking from a lot of their food. To start..We were served with bread that had Parmesan and a lot of garlic. Yum! We ordered the antipasti Freddi and caprese for appetizers and I would get those again. My fiance ordered the veal scaloppine and he said his veal was over cooked. I tried his broccolini and potatoes and they needed some flavor. I ordered the Verdura pizza, added chicken and ricotta... bland. The sauce tasted like straight tomato sauce.. no seasoning or anything. Overall, the food was ok. Just BLAND. Probably won't be back.

Ordered for takeout and the food was delicious. I liked the extra touches they included, like loaves of bread with Parmesan and took the time to label each dish for us. The only thing I would change is that the food was cooling a bit by our pickup time, but that's always a risk when taking out. Would definitely get again!

Quick and friendly service. The whole family was craving pasta and we got our fix. The food was excellent. One little note, for staff clearing plates, my daughter is a slow eater and staff was by our table 3times ready to whisk her plate away mid-bite. I would suggest they wait til the guests asks to clear it away and says they are done.

We had a party of 5, 3 meals were brought out to us correctly, one was a wrong order, one apparently did not get ordered at all. Three of us finished our meals, one arrived about 5 + minutes later, last order didn't come to the table until everyone else had finished. The servers were flustered and so were we. What was upsetting was that we were not compensated for anything. We ordered a couple desserts, hoping that at least they would have been free, but we were wrong. Ciao Mambo has lost 5 future diners and their families.

It is hard to write this review because it makes me hungry. We arrived with my parents who are both using walkers and they were able to seat us after a short wait. They were helpful managing my parents get up a couple of stairs to their seats. The food was delicious. We tried several dished and ever one of them were delicious. I ordered spaghetti and meatballs which I never do because I make it at home. This was different. The meatballs were amazing. I will be dreaming of them until we come back. The lasagna, the penne, the veal dish - perfection.

I'm traveling from Texas and trying out different foods in and around downtown Billings. My waitress was super nice and friendly which is always a plus. I ordered the Penne alla vodka with a side of broccolini. The pasta was good but only good. I actually make my own homemade penne alla vodka, so i compare it to mine. Not bad at all though! The broccolini however was a little undercooked. Just a tad. Also a little cold. I still ate it all nevertheless. They also give you a basket of bread which i demolished. The environment was loud and busy which i enjoy personally. I would recommend making reservations because they are extremely busy. I had to wait almost a hour for a table for 1. Totally understandable though due to how busy they were.

Fantastic food! Bread and Pizza Guido was to die for. Bekah was our waitress and she was fantastic. We are coming to eat here again the next time we are in Billings!

Delicious pasta, nice atmosphere, usually very busy. Desserts are to die for. Fun vibe, good wine & excellent service. One of our favorite places

100% best Italian food in Montana. Great staff, atmosphere and the food is the bomb. Dessert is a must!!

What a wonderful find right in downtown Billings! Per doctor's orders we are gluten free and had a hankering for pasta on our way through town. Thankful that we found Ciao Mambo on our search. They had a quality GF menu that included substitute GF penne pasta for many of their regular dishes. My wife and I both had a baked penne pasta dish with ricotta and Parmesan! Oh, it was sooo good. Big portions left us feeling comfortably full for the night without needing dessert. Other items on their regular menu were the traditional Italian fare one would expect; and looking at the plates of the people around us, they all looked great! Highly recommend this restaurant for any occasion. It's casual enough to go like we did (traveling through town and there on a stop-over in jeans and t-shirt) or for a romantic dinner out with that someone special!

best food in billings! if you're not wine savy they will help you find the perfect wine for you! extremely good value for the amount of food you receive every server i've had is so helpful!

EXCELLENT FOOD . Price is great for the size portion . Very intimate. Great date place or family restaurant. LARGE portions . Thank you for great service REBAH was an excellent server. Real hospitable and attentive!!