Genisa Wine Bar

We decided to go to Genisa because we were tired of the same old Janesville chain restaurants, we didn’t go in with big expectations. BUT, we came out pleasantly surprised and extremely happy and satisfied. It can feel like restaurant service of late it taking a sharp downturn in how they treat guests, but I can say we were very happy with our server and service from all of the staff, who were all very friendly. The food was also fantastic specifically the pepperoni pizza, lasagna and garlic bread. I will definitely be back for those. Unfortunately the cobbler was lacking for me, I wish it had more crunch, but of course that’s personal preference. Regardless, we will be returning, and I hope they can replicate our first experience again.

We were in Janesville on a summer weekend and wanted to eat somewhere with a patio, and someone recommended this place - oh my goodness, I felt like we were transported to Italy, what an experience! In a historic brick building on the river, with patio umbrellas and people enjoying wine and spritzes, the setting is magical. Our server Claire knew the menu and wine selection well and gave us great suggestions, really helpful. We had heard about their wood fired pizzas, and with their pillowy sourdough crust, they were indeed pretty incredible. Our group ordered the Salsiccia, generously sprinkled with excellent fennel pork sausage, one with crispy little pepperoni cups, and the fig and prosciutto, which was an amazing contrast of flavors and textures, so good. My husband cannot pass up gnocchi if it’s on the menu, and this Loaded Baker Potato version was especially rich and creamy. We were too full for dessert, but as the server brought out an impressively towering slice of chocolate cake to a couple at the next table, our jaws dropped - something to save room for next time!

We’ve been to Genisa Wine Bar a handful of times and always leave happy! Both indoor and outdoor dining are excellent options. Outside near the river under the string lights is absolutely magical. Their wine list is extensive, specialty cocktails are also well crafted, and the option to do wine flights makes the experience even more enjoyable. We’ve dined here with a large group (around 15 people), and the staff did a wonderful job accommodating us. While service can be a bit leisurely, the quality of food and drinks is always worth the wait—maybe that’s part of the authentic Italian experience. 😉 The menu is designed for sharing, which we love. The meatballs are a must-try, especially the trio that lets you sample different styles. The pizzas are always excellent, and the warm olives are a personal favorite starter. (I have yet to try any of their pastas.) For dessert, don’t skip the limoncello sponge cake—it’s the perfect ending, especially paired with an Americano. Highly recommend for date nights, group gatherings, or anyone wanting a little taste of Italy by the river!

I can’t believe what a great experience! Waiter was very informative directing us on making our choices! Bruschetta bread was amazing! Enjoyed entertainment on the patio! Dog friendly staff loved our golden doodle!

Loved this classy Wine Bar in Janesville. We sat outside with a view of the water. Tried the chianti and cabernt. Loved the cab...next time a bottle! Tried the olives and prosciutto+fig+arugula pizza. Both yummy!

I took my significant other to this restaurant for a date night, I have never been more pleasantly surprised. The staff is so chill and fast with their service, they all help eachother. The food is amazing, the meatballs are great and the fig pizza was probably the best pizza I think I've ever had, no exaggeration I will crave this pizza from now on. Over all, 10/10 its a little noisy but that's because so many people love it 😉

I’ve debated this for a few weeks now. This is based off two separate experiences. First trip was great, sat outside, two pizzas, wine and a good night out. Second trip didn’t even get to food. No reservations, just showed up on a Saturday night. With the entire inside empty except the bar and front table of 4. We asked for a seat for two and were placed in the back of the building behind the pizza oven and right by the bathroom doors. My wife was able to tell how this instantly put me off and we decided to leave after 2 mins. I’ll never understand why people do that. It’s an empty building and I have to be shoved into the worst table in the house? Come on guys you can fit me into a servers rotation without messing up areas when the place has 8 people in it. Fair tip if you try this place ask to sit outside or request a table in a good spot. The food was worth it, but felt too insulted to have it.

Erin and her team at Genisa were incredibly wonderful to work with. My husband and I had our welcome party the day before our wedding at Genisa and it was such an amazing night. They catered to our group of 80 people and while the space is not huge, it worked out perfect. The food was amazing and the wine even better! Erin's communication was prompt and working with her was a breeze. She was willing to do everything I requested in order to make our night work just the way I had envisioned it. Thank you Erin and team for helping us start our wedding weekend off with a bang. You guys were truly wonderful to work with. I highly recommend Genisa for your next catered event or even just or a night out to dinner as everything is delicious there!

Great atmosphere inside and out on the patio, fantastic service and the food is delicious! The pork belly pizza is a must try, and the loaded baked potato gnocchi is so flavorful and unexpected. The homemade limoncello is great, but packs a punch for sure and their curated cocktail and wine menu has something for everybody! I can't wait for their sister restaurant to open up next door. Such a great addition to Janesville!!

The restaurant looks aesthetically beautiful and has great views of the Rock River. We had their Prix Fixe menu for Janesville Restaurant Week. Our reservation was at 7pm but we didn't get seated until 45 minutes later. The food was mixed with some items being better than others, but both aspects could have been affected by Restaurant Week. Hoping to go back sometime in the summer to try it again and enjoy some wine with the views.

Was finally able to enjoy a meal here after stopping a few times just for a cocktail. We had a group of 7 and were sat by the waterside. The view is awesome from here and we were away from most of the diners which we appreciated as we were celebrating a birthday. The first 3 girls to arrive promptly were sat and had drinks. When the rest of us were seated it took 20 minutes before our waitress came to get a drink order or say hello. Other than this we had a great experience. We shared a few different pizzas and apps. The garlic bread was superb! My favorite pizza is the fig and bacon pizza. One of the best Neapolitan pizzas I've had!! What a great combo. Everyone was surprised how much they enjoyed it. I will definitely be back for more delicious food!!

Service was excellent and the waitstaff readily explained items with helpful suggestions. Food was great and presented well. We both ordered a pizza and we started off with the charcuterie for two. We both took half our pizza home and it made for great leftovers.

Eat here! Now that's out of the way, let me explain why. We came in for the first time today (Tuesday) at 4:30. We were seated by a welcoming hostess that gave us an introduction to the restaurant. Our waiter was outgoing and respectful, helping us enthusiastically with our selections. The appetizers and salad were very good. The cocktails were also spot on. But let's get to the main event I ordered the trio of meatballs with spaghetti. Three different style meatballs and they were all amazing, but the Italian Steakhouse meatball was next level! I also loved their sauce, very authentic and homemade tasting. My wife ordered the fig and prosciutto pizza. Baked in a brick oven from dough made with a sourdough living starter. Prosciutto, sweet fig, bleu cheese, arugula, parmigiano-reggiano and caramelized onions topped with balsamic. Perfect crust. Perfect pizza. People who don't like pizza will love this. That's how good it is. Lastly, my daughter. Had the loaded baked potato gnocchi. Savory and scrumptious with a perfect texture make this one of my all time favorite gnocchis. Lastly, nice ambiance in this place without being pretentious. The staff is so nice and helpful. They also have outdoor dining as well as a separate outdoor cigar deck that overlooks the river. They sell very nice cigars at a reasonable price in case you forgot yours. Also a well-stocked whiskey collection stocked at the bar. A pour of Blanton's Gold was only $35. I wish I could give this delightful restaurant 6 stars

The margarita pizza was a huge disappointment. The crust was good, but it was acidic sauce spread on pizza like butter and a few spits of cheese and ripped basil. I'm sure there are other things worth it, but not this pizza

Visited this restaurant for a second time this past week and another 5 star experience. The Baked Potato Gnocchi was unique and delicious. Erin and Samantha picked the perfect wines for me and they were both outstanding.

Customer service was very good the food was very tasty and the ambiance was comfortable and nicely decorated and clean

Nice environment, good food and decent service. However, you know when your server is having a bad day. Ultimately, it's too pretentious and overpriced for what you actually receive. It's more of a "place to be" rather than a true restaurant. Also, half the wine you see can be found at half the price at some place like an Olive Garden or down the street.

Great specialty pizza and a friendly staff. We were only there for food after traveling but this would be a great place to sit for hours with friends sipping and eating.

Run don't walk to Genisa Wine Bar. The atmosphere is lovely and looks like the interior of many of the foodie places I have been in Madison. Our server was very attentive and friendly. The hosts were also very friendly. When we first arrived the restaurant was not very busy but it definitely picked up the later we were there. We started with the charcuterie board which had a tasty selection (the olives have pits). I had a Manhattan which had a very good flavor. My friends had Negronis which both said were tasty. I had the sage and brown butter gnocchi with butternut squash. It was delicious! The other two had pizzas and they both looked delicious. I had a taste of the butternut squash pizza which had butternut squash, burrata cheese, and a light white sauce--the whole thing was delicious but the sourdough crust might have been my favorite part. Everyone ended the meal with tiramisu which was of so creamy! Absolutely worth the trip.

5/5 great service. 4/5 food 1/5 on transparency. I have no issues paying for a nice meal. What no consumer appreciates is a surprise when they see their bill. This was the first time I have ever eaten at a restaurant and been surprised at my bill. Apparently the food menu has 6oz and 9oz pours but not bottle price. This is not at all apparent until you see the cocktail menu side by side which we were not given until the end when my entire table was confused by the total. I ordered a bottle and 2 glasses and the prices were double that of what we anticipated. It surprised me so much that I started googling menus and you can clearly see, other businesses list the prices you are paying for by ounce. The waiter, who gave excellent service, even admitted it was a common complaint. Why would you not fix a common complaint if it had to do with confusion on pricing? All you need to do is add labels to the quantity of pour on the food menu. Somebody should never hand me a second menu which has more pricing information than the first. AFTER I order and am ready to pay for my bill. TLDR: If I am buying something, tell me how much it costs. It isn't that much to ask.

First, The restaurant is beautifully decorated. We had a party of 6 and were seated in a cozy corner banquette. Our waitress was SO nice. When the youngest in our party's food was delayed she brought out snacks for him to hold him over! The food was phenomenal!!!! Amazing brick oven pizza, gnocchi, spaghetti and a meatball! Overall it was a really wonderful experience!

Great place to eat. We frequent for the great price and great pizza. Plus they have some of the best priced allocated bourbon for sipping when it's available. I would ask for my pizza to be well done, sometimes the middle can be a little soft, but it tastes great. Definitely cannot complain!

So atmosphere is ok. Summer time, door to the patio was open. Was really hot and a lot of flies and such coming in. If you have a party over 8 they will not split checks and charge everyone equally no matter what you ordered. They also add 22% tip off the bat. Food is about the equivalent of a greasy overpriced mod pizza. Service isn't on par for the prices whatsoever. We have given this place 3 chances and all were poor. Much better options for your time and money.

My husband and I have been here twice now and have really enjoyed our experience! Ambiance: Absolutely gorgeous inside! It has a modern, sleek feel to it while also feeling warm and inviting. The bar area is gorgeous, my personal favorite to dine at. It has super cool LED lights and black accents. It also has a pretty LED sign behind it for photos opps. The wood burning pizza oven is a nice touch as well. The bathrooms are super clean and beautiful! The decor makes it feel super luxurious. Patio: the patio is covered in string lights and has a beautiful view of the water. We sat out here in the summer and it was so much fun! Service: the service has been phenomenal both times! The waitress we had the first time was super nice and efficient. The bar tenders we had yesterday were super friendly and attentive. Drinks: There is a huge cocktail selection, beer, and a good wine selection. The wines and cocktails are wonderful! I love their cab, lemoncello whiskey sour, and sangria. The bar tenders have made them perfectly each time! Food: I've had several things here. The food is made with fresh ingredients from the farmers market and is made in house. Marinated Olives- 4/5 delicious olives with great seasoning and flavor. I wish they would have been warm like we usually get them at other restaurants. Burrata Crostini's- 5/5 this was the absolute best thing we've had here! The crostini's are perfectly crispy and flavored. The burrata is spread across the crostini and covered in fresh seasonal vegetables. The flavors were so perfect together! Cheese board-3/5 it's good but nothing special and a bit over priced for the amount you/the times you get. Pizza- 4/5 the flavors are SO delicious but the cheese/sauce ratio is off. There's so much sauce that it interferes with the other flavors and makes the crust soggy. If they used less sauce and added more cheese, it would be perfect! I'd definitely recommend and will be returning!

We had our rehearsal dinner here for ~35 people and it was the dreamiest day ever. Erin the event manager is so fantastic at what she does and ensured the entire evening ran so smoothly. Our friends and family raved about the food and wine and the space was absolutely beautiful. We loved having an indoor and outdoor space and the view of the river was amazing. If you are getting married anywhere near Janesville, this restaurant is where you have to have your rehearsal. I wish I could relive this day at Genisa!

What a great place. I was visiting with a friend. We heard music down the street and decided to check this place out. There's a lot of indoor seating and a whole outdoor courtyard. We didn't get good because we just came from Whiskey Ranch but the menu looked fantastic. We decided to sit in the courtyard and share a bottle of wine. Live singer was great. Good company and great atmosphere. Also, randomly--the bathrooms were so beautiful and clean. Looking forward to trying out the menu at my next visit.

Came to support Josh and his team. My family and I did not leave disappointed. Loved the atmosphere. It was a cool earthy vibe and the food was divine dish after dish. We had 2 different pizzas, lasagna, and many more. The drinks were just as nice as the dishes themselves. Though our full party did not attend, we were not forgotten and had ample service from the staff.

Nice atmosphere with an open kitchen. Our waiter Josh was pleasant and accommodating.... Nice wine selection and cocktails. The lasagna was very flavorful while the risotto was lacking in flavor and a bit soupy. Our appetizer was good as well as the dessert. The patio looked like we need to come back in the warmer season. I do love a nice patio.

We had an incredible experience at Genisa. Joshua the GM was charming and gracious with his time and talents. The meal was off menu and a special treat with 5 courses and wine pairings for each. My party of four did not leave a crumb. The atmosphere is a cool vibe and we will definitely be back again. I suggest you follow them on Facebook so you can learn about unique events they hold.

Great food, incredible service, definitely a memorable place in Janesville. Cocktails are delicious and the ambiance is great for night out and even the bar seating is comfortable

Recently came in to make a reservation 30 minutes from the time I came in. Two girls up front were very nice and told me they'd text me in a half hour. An hour passed and no text. So I called and asked if I could come in and they told me they cancelled my reservation and said they texted me 40 minutes ago. I asked how long it would take to get another table and they said it would take another 45 minutes. The indoor dining area was empty besides one occupied table btw. I went somewhere else for dinner. I thought that it could've been my fault and I would receive the text when I got home and had an internet connection but it never showed up meaning they never texted me at all. They lied to me.

We came for the Valentine's Day Five Course tasting menu. The food was absolutely delicious and plated beautifully. The service was outstanding. They were attentive and friendly. It is a great cozy restaurant with a cool vibe. We look forward to our next visit!

Went here in March and we loved it! Great service, great food. Went again a week or so ago and we were told twice we couldn't sit on the patio. The server ignored the "privacy please" sign numerous times and was in a rush even though they weren't busy. The drinks were good, the pizza was fine.

We had a bad experience. Looking forward to a birthday dinner. Ordered wine, I ordered the special pizza of the day and my husband ordered meatballs. The wine came the meatballs came. No pizza. Asked waitress, she said "this is a tapas restaurant, things don't come out together". Still no pizza, asked waitress again, I will check. Still no pizza. Asked waitress again. She said cutting it now. Still no pizza. Finally went inside to check. Again excuses. Finally pizza, an hour later. They did comp us for meal. But when we left a lady (? Owner) ran up to us an accused us of yelling at staff and upsetting people. Totally untrue. A bad experience, not going back.

Went here two weeks ago. Food was to say not so returnable. Went back tonight to give the pizza a try however. Guess I will never know. Walked in, no reservation. But seeing that only two tables were occupied didn't seem like it would be an issue. IT WAS! You would think a new place would find ways to seat customers instead of turning away? Sad to say but this place won't be here long if they keep sending patrons away

I might have rated this a four as the service wasn't really a five, but it is a new restaurant still. Staff was friendly but not particularly attentive. The food was excellent. Must try Grandma's meatballs! And the sangria was excellent.

Delicious food and always great service. The meatballs are fantastic! They've got a great selection of cocktails and a fine selection of beers. We moved to the area not too long ago and Genisa has already established itself as one of our favorite spots.

Delicious!! We made reservations online (super easy) and sat outdoors. Host staff was so friendly! The bar was pristine! We were promptly seated and greeted. The menu is small but everything looked so good. We ordered the olives, nonnas meatballs, and a pizza. Everything was Delicious! My husband got a mixed drink and it was made to perfection. Their desserts are sourced from our local 608 cheesecake place and the specials were sources from the farmers market that morning. It is a Janesville much have. Service from our server was a little slow (taking our drink oland food orders, getting water, checking back) but the food came out in perfect succession. The atmosphere on the patio was delightful and charming. We will be returning!