Macaluso's Italian Restaurant — Restaurant in Ruston

Went here for the first time yesterday after living in walking distance for almost 3 years.

You typically need to get a reservation several days in advance as it’s very busy- even moreso on holidays, I tried to go here on Valentines day but they were absolutely booked.

And now after finally going I can understand why. I’m from a part of Ohio with a large Italian American population, and as a result there is a lot of good Italian food around there that I grew up enjoying! Living in this area, while the options for many types and varieties of food are abundant, I am very consistently disappointed by the price, quality, and portions at PNW Italian restaurants.

Macaluso’s was a very rare exception! Comparable to some of the best Italian restaurants I went to growing up.

For antipasti, we enjoyed the prosciutto con burrata & octopus carpaccio. Both were VERY good. My complaint is that I didn’t feel we had enough crostini for all of it. I was able to request more for free but it didn’t arrive until after our next course, so we ended up taking the antipasti leftovers home. Small note but I also would have enjoyed some balsamic glaze with one or both of these which was noticeably missing. Not required but something I personally enjoy.

For primi piatti, I had the lasagna classica and my partner had the portabello ravioli. Notably, I made a request to add mushrooms to my order- it seemed like the kitchen here didn’t get many modification requests but they were happy to accommodate, much to the fascination of several waitstaff who stopped to comment on the novelty of the idea as I was served, which I did find humorous (it’s just how it’s served at my favorite restaurant back home).

I couldn’t say much about the portabello ravioli because my partner devoured it but the sauce was divine! She normally doesn’t even enjoy mushrooms so I was surprised that she ordered this, let alone enjoyed it. Portion sizes, like the antipasti, were quite substantial- even for the ravioli, which I found surprising.

The lasagna classica was excellent however and I was very pleased with my decision to add the mushrooms! They had more interesting options but I was in the mood for a classic & delicious baked pasta and this meal delivered. The sauce was very rich and flavorful, distinct in a way that I’m thinking about it and drooling a bit even now. VERY generous portion of melted cheese on top which is always nice with lasagna. My order also came with some very delicious and cheesey house made garlic bread.

Finally, for cocktails, which we enjoyed throughout our meal. My partner loves her Lemon Drops, so she had two. They’re a bit sugary for me in general and this was no exception, but I enjoyed this more than most, particularly the intensity of the lavender. I tried two different cocktails myself, first the “Under the Tuscan Sun”, which I also found a bit too sweet for my taste, but it definitely delivered on the orange flavor I was looking for. The star of the show however was the second cocktail I had, which is seasonal, “The Godfather”. This was an amazing old fashioned made with house made simple syrup which apparently takes 14 days to make, with chocolate bitters. Very stiff and smooth drink, I loved this one!

All in all, I felt like I had a good value for my money. The bill was a bit pricey at ~$200 but for the quality and portion sizes we received, it felt reasonable in today’s economy. But don’t expect to come here and not spend at least $100+. If I had one complaint about price, the cocktails were a tad high at $16 each. For The Godfather this felt justified but I’m not so sure about the $16 Lemon Drops or Under the Tuscan Sun. But this is just me being nitpicky.

The atmosphere is very much my type of vibe. You could dine here in a full suit or summer daywear, or anything in between, and not feel out of place. They strike a very fun balance between relaxed and sophisticated while maintaining an intimate setting. It is a bit small, especially the bar area, but that’s part of the charm.

We...

I discovered this beautiful and cozy restaurant through Yelp. My wife and I read the overwhelmingly positive reviews and decided to celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary there. Our reservations were for 5:30 pm on a Saturday evening but we arrived at 5 pm. Not to worry, our table by the front window was already reserved. ADVISORY: make dinner reservations instead of just dropping by expecting a table. The quiet place became very noisy as it quickly filled up. We saw would-be diners without a reservation were told it would be 20 minutes for a table. Soon that was lengthened to an hour's wait. It's not a big place.

The waitstaff was amazing, everyone friendly, well-trained, and enjoying their jobs. Our server was Anna, but she had help serving at least one course from one of her fellow servers. Still, Anna was wonderfully gracious and her service enhanced our visit. Even the young man keeping our water glasses full was friendly and professional, attentive without being obtrusive. The only issue with the restaurant was the long wait for our entrees. However, just as I told my wife I was going to ask our server about our order, the entrees were brought to our table.

On to the food. What's an Italian restaurant without bread? Macaluso's has a wonderful housemade soft, crusty bread that is served with a garlic herb butter on the side. The bread would reappear in a couple more dishes. For starters we shared one of the best Caesar salads we've ever had. I chose the Octopus Carpaccio because I've always wanted to try fresh octopus. It was beautiful to look at: thinly sliced with caper berries sliced cherry tomatoes, lemon and olive oil. The housemade sliced bread was served on the plate to make it easy to combine in a few bites the delicious components of the dish. Perhaps a tad too much lemon since I wasn't quite able to taste the octopus, but I had also allowed the server to sprinkle on too much freshly ground black pepper. Still, a really good dish.

For entrees, my wife chose the Lasagna Classico, which was a huge slice served in an oval dish, with wedges of housemade garlic bread on the side. She said it was good, but not the "wow" she was expecting based on the reviews. I felt the same way. There was too much ricotta cheese and bechamel sauce for me and not enough meat. I also like my lasagna noodles a little more al dente. Still, there was enough left for my wife to take home. If the lasagna had been more to our liking, I would have awarded Macaluso's a fifth star.

I had seen Osso Bucco cooked on TV and had always been curious to try it. I am SO glad I did. The dish blew me away. The actual amount of meat was less than it looked when the dish was served because of the shank bone, but it turned out the serving of meat was more than enough.. BUT, the depth of flavors in the dish had no bottom. There was the red stew sauce which was delicious and complex. There was an unnecessary rosemary sprig as a garnish, but it did serve to highlight the rosemary in the sauce. I didn't pick up on the saffron in the dish, but I blame my palate for that. When I first tried the fork-tender veal meat on its own, it tasted a bit salty. But combined with that sauce and the various sliced squashes on the plate, it was glorious. I haven't yet mentioned the bed of Risotto Milanese the veal was served on. I've never had risotto in a restaurant before; I'm hooked. It melted in my mouth--just the way I've heard it should be served. This was the one of the best, most memorial dishes I have ever had. My wife said next time we eat there she's ordering the risotto.

Unfortunately, we had no room for dessert, and there were highly tempting choices. Next time... And there will be many next times. Macaluso's is now one of our two favorite Italian restaurants. It's a great choice for special events or just for a nice evening out. I don't know if reservations are required for lunch or for dinner during the week. But play it safe...

My absolute favorite Italian restaurant; it's intimate, cozy, has the most amazing, caring and attentive staff, the owner is always there making sure people are having the best experience and enjoying their meal. Call ahead to make a reservation if you want to be sure to get a seat, every so often you can get lucky with a walk-in, but because of how intimate it is, there's not any extra seating and they're always busy (not surprising because it's excellent!) which is why making a reservation is wise. Very authentic flavors and offerings, with incredible seafood incorporated into many dishes it appeals to the seafood loving Pacific Northwesterner in me! As a Pescatarian/Vegetarian I'm easily able to find many different dishes I can eat despite my restricted diet. Also, their sides and appetizers are very large and if you have a smaller appetite like me you can easily make an excellent meal of their small dishes! I'm obsessed with their balsamic Brussel Sprouts and clams personally! Their bartenders are highly skilled mixologists and make excellent recommendations for different drinks based on what you like or what you're eating! I've never had a cocktail I didn't love there! If you like the occasional sweet drink, their Lavender Lemondrop is always a favorite of mine and people I bring with me! It's not too sweet but definitely on the sugary side compared to the other drinks on the menu. They have a few creative spins on French 75's for those of you that like something lighter, and they have a very extensive wine list too! Perfect for a date night or dinner with the parents/inlaws or out- of-town guests you're trying to impress! This place feels very high end but for the quality of food and service here they're actually very reasonably priced for a high-end restaurant! We've celebrated Valentine's Day there twice and we will spend about $110-$160 (that's including an 20-25% tip too) for 4 drinks, a couple appetizers and an entree or 2. Their entrees are quite filling so if you order and sides or starters you could easily split an entree with your date and the wait staff usually will even split it and plate it separately if let them know you're sharing! It's also a great spot to go for a dessert drink and one of their desserts! I've had most of their desserts and they all were decadent and delicious treats! It's a very friendly and also home-y atmosphere, if you enjoy dining alone this is a very welcoming and safe space. I recommend sitting up at the bar at least once because you'll have the best conversations with other regulars as well as the wait-staff! Any time I've gone there alone they've made me feel like I was some kind of celebrity and I felt very attended to and accepted! They're also very chill about taking photos for you of your party if it's a special occasion, they understand the importance of...