Maddalena's — Restaurant in Kent

If you’re looking for a spot in Kent where the food and service both hit that five-star mark, Maddalena’s is a standout. The menu features wood-fired pizzas, perfectly cooked pasta, amazing meats, fresh seafood, and a cocktail and wine list that’s clearly curated with care. It feels like a veteran crew built this establishment from the ground up. At the front of house, things were buzzing but staff remained attentive, but not impatient. The menu was a single 8.5x11 one-sider, but had a half dozen apps, 3 salads, 4 wood fired pizzas, and a few entrees - all of them looked delicious. The atmosphere is lively and inviting, with a lovely interior that feels both modern and warm. That said, it can get a little loud, especially during peak hours, so if you’re after a quiet, intimate dinner, you might want to plan for an off-peak visit. Still, the energy adds to the experience for most, making it a great spot for a fun night out with friends or a celebratory dinner. It is a small establishment, so when we stopped in at dinner time on a friday, we had to either wait 45 minutes or sit at the bar. I would guess there were about 10 tables (2-4 seats each) and another 10-12 bar seats.

We had meatballs, kale salad, braised shortrib, 3 desserts and two drinks for $115 (including tip & tax).

While the meatballs were wildly tender and delicious, the sauce was really the star of the plate. I kinda wish there was some way to order more as licking the plate seemed a bit of a faux pas. The Kale Salad was different to include roasted cauliflower, and was also a ‘wow, where have you been’ type dish for my wife. Finally the braised short rib was frustratingly delicious (frustrating because I shared the dish with my wife, and I really would have selfishly hoarded it all.) The shortrib itself was fall-apart tender, but again the sauce shined and I was secretly scraping my plate clean with my fork trying to get every last morsel.

We have a weakness for desserts, and while we didn’t order every one on the menu, it felt like we came close. It would have been helpful for me to see a written dessert menu, but our water was great about articulating each option and its qualities. We opted for Torta, Zeppole, and Strawberry Gelato. All three were great, and I would even venture that they were not overly sweet (which I prefer). In fact, I could have done away with the powered sugar used mostly as a decorative element, I think. If I had to pick just one, it would be the Zeppole - it had both great flavor and texture. Also, I didn’t hear it, but I would have selected a ‘try-em-all’ option for the gelato. They had strawberry, vanilla, chocolate & coffee flavors, and I would have easily ordered that to satisfy my deep love of trying all kinds of flavors (hint, hint!) 

I’d add a plug for the blueberry lemonade - it was from a gun, but man it was really delicious and seems to have had a free refill according to the bill.

Overall, Maddalena’s is a must-try for anyone in Kent craving top-notch Italian fare and attentive service, even if you have to lean in a bit to hear your...

Maddalena’s offers a beautifully designed space with a warm, welcoming ambiance and truly outstanding staff. The service was prompt, attentive, and kind, and the overall aesthetic of the restaurant is both inviting and thoughtfully curated. However, the culinary experience did not fully meet expectations.

The Caesar salad, while presented with care, was ultimately lacking in flavor and substance. The dressing was mild to the point of being forgettable, and the croutons had an unusually soft, almost soggy texture. Given its price point, I had hoped for greater complexity and balance.

The garlic bread featured a unique cornbread-like consistency, which was texturally interesting but not entirely successful. The flavor profile was quite muted, and even the addition of whole roasted garlic and melted cheese failed to elevate the dish meaningfully.

The quattro formaggi pizza was more successful in its simplicity. While the individual cheeses did not offer much distinction, the result was a cohesive and satisfying, if unremarkable, cheese pizza. It lacked the richness and nuanced flavor one typically associates with a four-cheese blend.

The most disappointing dish of the evening was the orecchiette. The pasta was overcooked and texturally flat, and the overall composition lacked seasoning and depth. The house-made sausage, however, was a bright spot—well-executed and flavorful—but it was not enough to redeem the dish as a whole.

On a more positive note, Nonna’s Cream Soda, a signature cocktail, was creative and enjoyable. While I would have preferred a more pronounced orange flavor, it was a playful and refreshing drink that stood out among the offerings.

One significant drawback to the experience was the acoustics. The dining room was uncomfortably loud, making it difficult to hold a conversation. This detracted from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere.

In summary, Maddalena’s shows clear potential. The staff and setting are exceptional, and there is a sense of care behind the concept. However, the food would benefit from bolder flavors, improved execution, and more attention to detail. I remain optimistic and look forward to returning in the future, hopeful that continued refinement will allow the restaurant to live up to its promise. I intend to revisit and update this review...

We stopped in as they opened for an early dinner knowing this place books up quickly. Industrial chic vibes with an elegant appearance. We were seated quickly and ordered a Peach Belini and an appetizer of the Caesar Salad. For mains the Pork Milanese and Mafaldine Alla Caponata. All the dishes appeared to be Sicilian or Southern Italian inspired.

Peach Belini came out quickly and was very good. My wife commented that it was not overly sweet and tasted fresh.

The Caesar Salad was the star of the night! Super fresh and perfectly dressed. The croutons and fresh black pepper were perfect as well. It was a 10 out of 10.

Next the entrees arrived. The Pork Milanese was a huge bone in pork chop that was butterflied and breaded. It came with chopped sautéed vegetables, arugula, and a lemon aioli. The portion was large but the breading on the pork was felt underseasoned but was superbly crispy. Pork was cooked perfectly and still juicy. The vegetables and aioli felt like misses and did not make sense with the dish. The aioli was underseasoned and no lemon or salt was detected (essentially just mayo at that point).

The Mafaldine Alla Caponata was not good. The Mafaldine was cooked a perfect al dente but the the dish was bland and unremarkable. I was anticipating the vinegary and salty classic but what I recieved was mushy and sweet. The eggplant and peppers were indistinguishable from one another and a larger amount of capers could have helped. I did not see any olives but none were listed on the menu, so that was on me. The burrata portion was a bit too small as well like 1/4 of a burrata dropped on top the dish. Overall begging for basic seasoning and was a major disappointment as someone that was looking forward to a vegetarian option.

I do recommend giving this place a try as the menu appears to be updated seasonally and this is a nice upscale type dining environment for Kent. The issues experienced can be addressed by attention to detail and perhaps our experience was just an off night for...