Fanatico — Restaurant in Whitewater

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Fanatico, a charming Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of Whitewater, Wisconsin. From the moment I stepped through the door, I knew I was in for an exquisite culinary experience. Fanatico's combination of warm ambiance, exceptional service, and mouthwatering cuisine left me utterly captivated.

Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by a friendly and professional staff, who guided me to a cozy booth. The ambiance of the restaurant was inviting and comforting, with soft lighting and tastefully decorated walls adorned with Italian-themed artwork. The pleasant background music added a touch of authenticity to the overall experience.

The menu at Fanatico is a tantalizing journey through the flavors of Italy. As a lover of Italian cuisine, I found myself spoiled for choice by their extensive selection of homemade pasta dishes, wood-fired pizzas, and exquisite seafood options. Each dish showcased the chef's mastery in combining traditional Italian flavors with innovative culinary techniques.

To start, I indulged in the Bruschetta al Pomodoro, a delightful appetizer that featured fresh tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a drizzle of olive oil resting atop perfectly toasted slices of Italian bread. The burst of flavors was invigorating, setting the stage for what was to come.

For the main course, I couldn't resist trying their signature dish, the Risotto ai Funghi. This creamy and aromatic risotto boasted a perfect al dente texture and was generously adorned with a medley of earthy mushrooms. It was a true revelation for my taste buds. My dining companion opted for the Pollo Marsala, a succulent chicken breast cooked to perfection, bathed in a luscious Marsala wine sauce that perfectly complemented the tender meat.

The service throughout my dining experience was impeccable. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgeable, offering insightful suggestions on wine pairings and always ensuring our glasses were never empty. The wait times were reasonable, allowing for a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

To conclude my unforgettable meal, I indulged in the Tiramisu, a delectable dessert that effortlessly combined layers of delicate ladyfingers, velvety mascarpone cream, and a sprinkle of cocoa to create a heavenly symphony on my palate. It was the perfect ending to an exceptional dining experience.

In summary, Fanatico is a hidden gem in Whitewater, Wisconsin that demands recognition. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance captivates you, followed by a tantalizing menu that pays homage to the flavors of Italy. The impeccable service and attention to detail further elevate the already extraordinary culinary journey. I highly recommend Fanatico to all lovers of Italian cuisine who seek an unforgettable dining experience. You won't be disappointed!

Disclaimer: This review reflects my personal experience and opinion dining...

Tried this place for the first time around 6:30/7 on a Wednesday night. We did not have a reservation and didn’t need one, but definitely a good idea if dining on the weekends. Cute place, tables are close together, lighting is good! The light fixtures hanging from the ceiling are adorable. We were seated right away, unfortunately we were sat at a table in the middle of the dining room, luckily it wasn’t that busy, so it was fine. There was a wine list on the table and a holiday drink list on the table. They have a great selection of wines, catering to all budgets and the holiday list sounded delicious, but did not have prices! We chose to forego an appetizer as we were determined to have dessert, but the bruschetta looked delicious! I had the creamy pesto tortellini with shrimp added on. The menu stated to add shrimp was $5, the server said it was $6, but when the bill came it was $8. A little confusing, but fine. The pasta was DELICIOUS!!!! It was a mix of pesto and Alfredo, the tortellini was cheesy and delicious, the shrimp (there were 4) were good sized, cooked perfectly and delicious. The dinner came with salad or soup. I chose salad and I chose ranch, was disappointed that it was not homemade dressing and the salad consisted of mixed greens and mine had one long carrot shred in it. My friend had the Chicken Frances. She said it was also DELICIOUS. It was a good sized portion served over pasta. She also chose salad with blue cheese dressing. The dressing also tasted store bought, but her mixed greens had 3 long carrot shreds in it. We were served a basket of fresh baked breadsticks and a plate of rosemary infused oil with Parmesan for dipping. I was not a fan of the breadsticks, but the oil and parm was delicious! The restaurant is located in a strip mall, so the bathroom is actually in the mall. There were two stalls, absolutely NO toilet paper, the water ran cold with no way to turn it warm and the hand dryer also blew cold. My biggest complaint. Now for the desserts…my friend had the tiramisu. It was delicious, a smaller portion, but worth every penny. I had the chocolate cake. This thing was monstrous and to die for! The service was great. Our server, Maeve, was friendly and helpful. It is a bit on the pricey side, for one soda, 2 entrees and 2 desserts it came to $86 before tip. We will definitely be back, the entrees themselves were totally worth it! If you are in the area and looking for a nice dinner out...

Arrived early by an hour for our reservation, and they were able to seat us within 10 minutes of arrival which was nice. However, the food was mediocre at best. The tomato basil bisque was bland, with floating black specks I assume would have been dried basil, but the soup tasted like warm mashed tomatoes. No seasoning, no basil, no creaminess that makes it a bisque. The bruschetta was ok, but again it lacked citrus and there was no balsamic vinegar, garlic, or oil anywhere. Literally just a hunk of mozzarella with chopped tomatoes and some (sparse) chopped basil on a very tall piece of bread. The baked manicotti was okay. Had to ask the server for water, ask for refills and had to ask a different server for straws after our server disappeared for a while. For the breadsticks, the server tried to put oil and cheese on my appetizer plate that already had food on it, rather than a new or empty plate which I found totally bizarre. Our server was not very attentive, and I found the other two servers in our area to be engaging and lovely in comparison, wish we had gotten one of them.

Edit in reply to company: my server had two tables, a 3 top and a 4 top. The other two servers had more tables and yet seemed nicer and more attentive to their tables than ours did. The tomato basil soup was most definitely described as a bisque by the server. And the bruschetta did not have salt or olive oil, it was straight chopped tomatoes. Also, we let the hostess know we were extremely early and were happy to come back later, and we were told that it was no problem to seat us early. If you were unable to provide adequate service, and the server is unable to handle more than two tables at a time, then the hostess should have communicated that and we would have been happy to come back at the...