🍝 Osteria Papavero – An Italian Gem in “Madtown”! 🧡

My first time in Madison, and I’m already blown away by the food scene. So jealous of UW-Madison students – you call this a “town”?! 😂 (Coming from someone surrounded by nothing but cornfields… 🌽) We drove from Chicago after Black Friday shopping and ended up at this lovely Italian spot right across from the stunning Capitol building 🏛️. Though the exterior is modest, the inside is intimate and warmly lit – perfect for dates or small gatherings. We started with drinks: 🍹 Aperol Spritz & Golden Hour – both delicious and refreshing! 🍷 Sangiovese – smooth and well-paired with the food. APPETIZER: 🥩 Salumi ($15 for small) – Generous portion with smoked pork jowl, salami, and BEEF TONGUE! The tongue was tender and flavorful, the jowl tasted just like Chinese braised pork, and the salami was aromatic without any weird aftertaste. Loved it! MAINS: 🐗 CHIGHIALE – Braised wild boar with pappardelle. Rich, savory, and not cheesy – the pasta held the sauce perfectly. Highly recommend! 🐮 CODA DI BUE (Special) – Oxtail stew with potato gnocchi. The oxtail was fall-off-the-bone tender with a deep beef flavor (almost like Chinese red-braised oxtail!). The gnocchi was just okay, but the sauce was incredible. Apparently their best-selling special! 🥩 LAMBATELLO – Hanger steak + sausage in tomato sauce. The steak was decent, the sausage was tasty but a bit salty. Still, a flavorful and hearty dish. Overall, no disappointments – a rare win these days! Their food isn’t overly cheesy; instead, they balance meat, sauce, and pasta beautifully. Only regret: We were too full for dessert 😭. Attached the menu and wine list for reference – genuine review, no ads! 📸 Check the pics below 👇 Strongly recommend if you’re in Madison and craving thoughtful, authentic Italian! #Madison #UWMadsion #MadisonFood #ItalianFood #FoodReview #OsteriaPapavero