Osteria Papavero is a casual, rustic Italian restaurant in the heart of Madison’s downtown. Our chef Francesco Mangano is from Bologna, Italy and cooks traditional Italian fare with an elevated twist. We have a number of daily specials, featuring local vegetables and proteins from nearby farmers.
Cozy, laid-back spot serving large portions of seasonal Italian fare & an extensive wine list. Based on 461 reviews, the restaurant has received a rating of 4.6 stars. Price $$
✔️ Dine-in ✔️ Curbside pickup ✔️ No-contact delivery
Address:
128 E Wilson St, Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 255-8376
Social Profile: 
Hours
| Thursday | 11:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30–9 PM |
| Friday | 11:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30–9 PM |
| Saturday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
| Monday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:30 AM–2 PM, 4:30–9 PM |
Menu
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Menu Photos
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Order and Reservations
Reservations: resy.com
Reviews
Larschelby Kidd Wisconsin Wine Guy
A truly wonderful experience and lovely attentive, knowledgeable staff. The food tonight was extraordinary as always when I dine, alone or with guests, I like to enjoy multiple dishes. If you’re interested in being at a small local Italian restaurant that focuses on quality ingredients and it’s diners experience, this is the place. Most memorable moment, outside of the food, was watching a woman dine alone in absolute comfort and joy. She was obviously a regular and discovered this jewel where she can simply be in the moment.
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Andrea C
Loved the atmosphere and staff. Brooke, our server, was great. We had the seafood trio and burrata as appetizers. Bread was excellent. Ordered wild boar ragout (great! Beef-stew flavor), calzone (wow) and Gramigna with Italian ham. Very good!
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Saran Ouk
Osteria Papavero in downtown Madison has very unique, quality and delicious items on their menu. Here’s what we order:
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Aaron Eicher
“Bruh” -Gordon Ramsay
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Ed Sieverding
Overrated and overpriced. The fried shrimp included the head and we’re not deveined. The noodle dish was undercooked and was not spicy although advertised as spicy. Seating was cramped and the Ambiance is quite noisy.
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Rosanne Luu Shih
We really wanted to like this place but ended up disappointed in our food.
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Vanessa Jambois
Osteria Papavero provides an authentic Italian dining experience that is sure to satisfy the palate. My recent visit was filled with delightful flavors and textures, particularly the gnoccho fritto, which was nothing short of amazing. It is a sort of a fry bread. I could eat it every day of the week. The ambiance of the bistro was inviting, and the service was attentive.
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Jen Parker
We love this place and have been twice in the past month. Most recently, we went during Restaurant Week. My husband ordered the three course meal available through that. His halibut was delicious as was the butterscotch pudding. I opted for one of the special entrees instead–kangaroo loin on yucca and Swiss chard. It was absolutely fantastic! The service is great and, we appreciate their wine pairing recommendations too!
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Colleen Drinkwater
The most wonderful experience ever. They were so kind in helping my friends find ideal items for their dietary needs and two of us had the the bison short rib tortellini, which was excellent! I absolutely love the small intimate experience this restaurant provides. Anyone of their desserts is a great way to finish your dining experience.If you have the opportunity, try the house made limoncello!
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Hector Escobar
The moment you get in you feel very welcome! All staff is super nice. We had a late reservation and we got early and were accommodated right away anyways.
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