Madisen Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano (Madison): Lobster Pasta & Focaccia That Make It a Must-Visit 🍝🦞 Back for more Italian food in Madison—and Biaggi’s totally blew me away, especially their lobster dishes and unbeatable bread. From creamy squid ink pasta to loaded bruschetta, this spot is a value-for-money winner. Here’s why it’s now on my “go-to” list: 🥖 Complimentary Bread – The BEST in Madison (Focaccia Steals the Show!) Let’s start with the pre-meal star: the bread. This is, hands down, the best complimentary bread I’ve had at any Italian spot in Madison—especially the focaccia! The bread itself is soft, chewy, and has that perfect “glossy” texture inside. The crust is crispy, with a salty-spicy-savory seasoning that balances beautifully. Dip it in olive oil, sea salt, and parmesan? Chef’s kiss. I was already half-full before appetizers even arrived (no regrets, though) 😋. 🍤 Standout Appetizer: September Special – Lobster & Crab Bruschetta This was a limited-time September dish, but it’s worth checking if they bring it back (and their regular bruschetta comes highly recommended too!): Price & Portion: $14 for 2 pieces—and they’re huge! I went in expecting tapas-sized portions, but these are big enough to share (or almost a meal on their own). Flavor: Tons of tender lobster and crab meat on top! The layer where seafood meets bread is creamy and rich (so much buttery, milky flavor), while the fresh tomato topping cuts through the richness—bright, refreshing, and never greasy. Total win. 🍝 Main Course: Lobster Squid Ink Pasta – Value-for-Money King If you love lobster and pasta, this is non-negotiable: Price: $20 for a plate with half a lobster’s worth of meat—insane value for Madison! Taste: The white sauce is creamy, packed with mushroom flavor, and never heavy. The squid ink pasta is chewy and springy (perfect texture), and the lobster meat is tender, sweet, and evenly mixed in. Every bite hits that ideal combo of seafood, cream, and pasta. 🥟 Braised Short Rib Ravioli – Tasty, But Could Use More Meat The ravioli was good, but not a standout next to the other dishes: The short rib inside is tender (you can tell it’s been braised low and slow), and it tastes like a tiny beef pie wrapped in pasta. Only complaint: There’s not enough meat filling—you get more pasta than short rib. Still tasty, but save room for the lobster dishes instead. 📍 Practical Tips Wait Times: It gets busy during meal hours—reserve ahead to skip the line. Menus: They launch new dishes every month, so there’s always something fresh to try. #ItalianFood #MadisonFood #UniversityOfWisconsinMadison #Pasta #LobsterPasta #ItalianCuisine #WhatIEatToday