Beningo's Restaurant

Best local (non-chain) Italian in Blo-no!

Prices are normal, portions are fair, and the quality is very good. Much of it is homemade, and you can tell! The staff really made the place for me though. Incredibly friendly and helpful! Great place to go with the family or on a date.

This little Italian place is a favorite of natives of the Bloomington area, being new to the area I decided to try it.  It is good, not five star but good.  I have been here 3 times and have always sat in the small upstairs dining room which I understand is nicer than the basement room.  Reservations are recommended, it is small and fills up quickly.  The decor is dated but pleasant.  The owner is frequently in the dining room visiting with the guests.  I have had their lasagna and the eggplant parmesan.  The eggplant is nice with a crispy coating, the lasagna is pretty standard restaurant food.  You get a nice salad and bread sticks with your meal.  I like Beningo's but if there were a Buca Di Beppo in town I would go there first.

Family visiting ISU and found this place based on the Yelp reviews.  We were not disappointed and would recommend this restaurant for high quality Italian food, with great service, in a cozy and family friendly environment.

We waited 5 mins on a Saturday night for a table.   3 of us had the lasagna with meat sauce and one had fettucini alfredo.   Lasagna was great, with a slightly sweet sauce and lots of meat in the sauce. Portion size large, but not crazy large.   If your hungry, you'll be satisfied.  Entrees came with salad and garlic bread.  Salad dressings (we had Italian and French) were homemade and tasted great.    Garlic bread was a little disappointing after the other reviews.   They we're breadsticks and just ok, not bad,  but expected more from the reviews.

The service is what makes Beningos stand out.  We felt like we were in this dining room of a the owners home.   Extremely attentive but not obtrusive.  Waitresses super friendly.   When I spilled my water by accident,the waitress and owner were at the table in less than 10 seconds cleaning the space, and helping me recover from my slightly embarrassing moment in front of my family.   The decor is a bit outdated but perfect for the homey and warm feeling this restaurant exudes.

We'll find a way back to this restaurant whenever we are driving through the area.   Highly recommended.