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| - Five hundred stars.
I've been reticent to post about this one, for purely selfish reasons: I don't want too many people to know about this place. It seems to fly under the radar with a pretty low profile in the crowded Madison restaurant scene, and that's fine because, make no mistake, it's amazing.
I've been coming here about once a month for a few years, and the food has never been short of fantastic. After reading a what's already been posted, I'll try to sum up my many experiences in a few short quips and tips:
Get the Budino for dessert. I'm not even a fan of butterscotch pudding nor do I even order dessert as a mandate, and it's amazing.
Pay attention to the long list of specials when your server describes them, which are written only in Italian (with no descriptions) on the wall. This is the best stuff they have going, and it changes just about every day. Ask him/her to repeat them if you didn't get it all the first time, there really are a lot.
Of the options on the printed menu, all are fantastic. The N'duja is incredibly spicy, but good. The Wild Boar pasta dish is amazing. Also, there are usually several rotating appetizer samplers (seafood, vegetarian, etc) where you get three or four different preparations in separate little bowls on one plate. Just like the specials, these preparations change daily, and are also good for sharing.
Try something from the bar. They don't take reservations and the place is almost always busy on weekends, so there can be a bit of a wait. It's worth it. Wait at the bar and try one of the wonderful creative cocktails from their list, a beer (there is usually a different, not-mass-marketed Italian beer on draft), or a glass of wine. Their wine list is extensive and features only Italian wines, many of them somewhat obscure if you're not an Italian wine expert (I'm definitely not). The servers have always done a great job pairing the wines with the food ordered.
A lot of reviews complained about the portion sizes for the entrees. They're only on the small side if you're used to traditional Americanized Italian food portions at a place like Olive Garden, ie. huge. Papavero is real, authentic, inventive Italian, and entree portions are smaller in Europe. Instead, order another appetizer or two, and save room for the Budino for dessert. Share a bunch of stuff and try as much as you can. It's worth it.
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