Always enjoy coming here w/ my family, usually a group of 6 or more. Â Food is consistently good - I usually go for linguine w/ clams - and service attentive. Â Relatives rave about osso buco and lamb shanks and from what I've stolen off their plates I agree. Â Good selection of wines, including prosecchi, and excellent mixed drinks. Â Only complaint is noise level, which makes it difficult for folks hard of hearing to participate in table talk, but in all a solid Italian restaurant that serves up a flavorful, hearty meal that satisfies.
Review Source:Only been here once so not sure how the rest of the menu is but my veal was not very good. Â Salty and chewy something I was not expecting from a place that has the rep I hear so much about. Â The bruschetta was awesome I must say! The wait staff was very attentive.
Not sure how long it will be before I give it another try, wasnt too impressed.
Imagine you are getting married. Â On New Year's Eve. Â With about 48 hours of planning. Â You are on your way to an outdoor venue (because it was warmish considering it was the end of December) with approximately twenty people in tow (about 15 more than you anticipated would come on such short notice) and you realize that, perhaps, you should offer these lovely people a meal. Â They are, after all, among the closest family and friends you have. Â They have assembled with zero notice and not a word of complaint. Â They at least deserve a meal, right?
If only you had a modicum of forethought to plan such a meal. Â A lovely little luncheon, perhaps? Â With delicious food, a welcoming atmosphere, and abundantly flowing drinks? Â If only you had thought...I mean, what are the odds that some of the best Italian food in the area would be available to you? Â And that the staff would bend over backwards to get a li'l something ready for your party of twenty in say...two and a half hours? Â On New Year's Eve? Â Well, if you called Cafe Borgia this is exactly what they would do.
And what they did.
Totally saved my ass.
I've been a fan of Cafe Borgia for some time now. Â Yes, I loved it as a tiny little restaurant in Lansing. Â However, I appreciate it the larger spot it has become. Â The food has always been wonderful and the drinks are divine. Â Try the Italian margarita. Â You'll see what I mean. Â
However, Cafe Borgia secured a forever spot in my heart when the above scenario unfolded and they still managed to rock out a fabulous lunch (we ordered from the menu) and bar service for our wedding guests. Â Everyone in attendance raved about their meal and not a soul believed that I phoned a mere two hours earlier to set the whole thing up. Â
Should you ever be in need of delicious Italian--and I'm not talking Olive Garden here, people--and excellent service, hit up the Cafe Borgia. Â Whether it is a first date or your wedding night, they've got the food and service thing covered in spades.
I've heard many good things and many so so things about this place. So on my first visit I came away, full and content but not completely won over. The decor was nice. I liked the tile floor and the granite tables but other than that the rest of the building was overly impressive. The food was good but not out of this world. We had stuffed mushrooms and calamari for an appetizer and both were just so so. The house salad was spectacular though, I can eat more of that anyway with it's balsamic dressing and greens. The home made raviolis were just ok. I ate them all but I won't get them again. For dessert we had the a white chocolate with pistachio dish that my wife really enjoyed and I thought it was decent but a little overpriced. Our friends enjoy the place but ill have to give it a second try someday.
Review Source:SADLY RIDING ON THEIR FORMER GLORY...
Please don't get me wrong, I used to LOVE Cafe Borgia! I've been going there since it was at it's charming, old location on Torrance Ave. They still have a few dishes that are pretty good, and I love their open-concept kitchen. The staff is always friendly and attentive (save for one particular bartender, who ignores customers while visibly texting and chain smoking..)
However, lately our experiences have been highly disappointing.These are just a few of the problems we have encountered:
The bolognese sauce had the consistency of cat food. I found a hair in my mushroom porchini. My mother ordered the chicken risotto, and there was actually a BONE in it. In risotto...
Our glasses were dirty.
My fettuccine alfredo was totally bland.
Eventually we spoke to a manager about our disappointment and he responded that it all depends on who is the chef that night. Um, excuse me..but a restaurant of that caliber should have consistency and always have a good chef.
I think that they still can turn it around, but they really need to step it up to compete with Ciao Bella, Gamba, and Anthonys.
Delightfully yummy. The eggplant lasagna is very nice, all the right flavors and coked perfectly. The seafood stew/soup/combination was ok. The steak is perfectly cooked and roasted veggies delish. A bit on the pricey side knowing that the food is very homemade style. The atmosphere is great, a touch of modern with a touch of Italy.
Review Source:My parents and a late aunt used to take me here a lot as a kid, when it was still in Lansing, and we recently decided to check it out again. Compared to a lot of Italian restaurants out here in NWI, this is undoubtedly the only one I'll recommend.
As a dessert fiend, my favorite aspects are the tirimasu and zucotto cake, along with their coffee. Appetizers are also pretty good. I'm knocking a star off because I haven't had an entree to write home about. They're just sort of okay.
I noticed that two others here on Yelp gave a bad review to this restaurant on the same day that we went. Â I have to admit that while I was there I did not see any large groups nor did anyone receive bad customer service at all the whole time we were there.
I kept thinking about how there are so many restaurants in this country that could take a lesson from this restaurant's outstanding customer service.
Our food was outstanding, the service was impeccable, and the decor was wonderful! Â Easily a repeater for us!
Best food in Munster hands down. And as you can see in the pictures, they stock Three Floyd's. Â Also, they possess a decent wine list.
I have eaten here multiple times (even when they were on Torrence in Lansing), and the quality of the food and ingredients has not changed. The thing about Cafe Borgia is that the food is consistently very good.
A bit pricey, but you get what you pay for. Get the lamb shank, it's amazingly good. Also, the Chicken Vesuvio is to die for when it's piping hot.
I must say that there isn't much I've had from Cafe Borgia that I don't like. Have a chocolatchino before you leave. They're fantastic.
I didn't see much of Munster when I recently visited on a business trip, but I am glad that I found Cafe Borgia for lunch.
My work colleague and I took advantage of the fact that the area was experiencing craaazy high temperatures in early March (80 degrees! Â What?!?), and took a seat on the sunny patio. Â We were grabbing a late lunch and the restaurant wasn't very busy, so the waiters were super attentive.
The menu was surprisingly extensive, although my colleague was disappointed that they only had a raspberry-flavored iced tea instead of an unflavored ice tea. Â I had to agree that it would have been nice to have a regular ice tea for those who don't like raspberry. Â But then again, I actually tried said raspberry ice tea and it was dee-lightful! Â (A sidenote: Â for you Splenda or Equal junkies, the only artificial sweetener they offer is liquid Sweet n' Low, so bring along some packets if you can't live without your favorite).
We both went with the same selection: Â the grilled chicken portobello mushroom pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil. Â I would have liked more chicken in the dish, and larger pieces besides, but the flavor was good. Â The garlic also sneaks up on you and I didn't realize how garlicky the dish was until I was done. Â I probably emitted it through my pores throughout the rest of the afternoon. Â Oops. Â
Oh well. Â It was worth it. Â ^____^
The food was well prepared and presented. Â The waiter was very attentive. Â There were plenty of folks here the night I went and they ranged from couples to families to groups and everyone looked like they were enjoying the atmosphere and their food. Â The sorbets vary and fun to try new mixed flavors. Â Portions were large and their salads were outstanding.
Review Source:Cool little place Munster IN. Â Hit it up after trying to eat at 3Floyd's Brewery. Â Beautiful outdoor deck in the summer and serve 3 Floyd's and Bell's beer. Â Tried the Lasagne, meetballs, and rissoto with porcini mushrooms and chicken. All just ok and nothing special. Go for the outdoor area and beer.
Review Source:I went here one night last week for dinner. LOVED THE DECOR!!! They have these little Vintage plates that were adorable. The food was very good. I had some Balsamic Vegetable dish which was very good. The portion size was decent and the staff was attentive. I will for sure be dining there again!
Review Source:Hello,
Wanna feel like your in a restaurant in Rome? Then go here. Â The paintings on the wall, Â and all the marble decor makes me feel like it. Â I know I've been there. Â All the food here is authentic. Â
Came here Friday to celebrate my birthday with some Martinis and appetizers. Â Had fried calamari, Â stuffed mushrooms, Â mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto, Â stuffed eggplant, and even some pizza. Â Tried a little of everything and all was great. Â
I stuck with the regular Martini, but my wife and daughter had the Tiramisu Martini,  Chocolate raspberry martini,  and Espresso martini.  They have a bunch of other flavors too.  However Martinis do cost  $10.00
Our waitress was one of the friendliest people we ever met.
A must try.
The dessert was ok. Â I usually get cannoli with a cream base, although this one was loaded with pastachio nut crumbles, which I love, there recipe brought a different filling base. Â It tasted more like a donut batter. Â But the apple pie was sensational and fresh with their piping hot coffee!
The Andy Warhol art deco was cool. Â The high ceilings and outdoor area was very attractive. Â My parents love this place and I think it was very elegant and the food was quality.
The brusetta with tomato is amazing--I linger over every bite of it-smiling.
The daily specials sometimes as stellar. Â I miss not having my Oringa to drink there. Â I do deprise have milk for the coffee-they need bring cream-even when you ask for it.
The desserts are a lovely finish to the meal, Â I can be pricey, but it is worth it. Â I also enjoy the easy parking in Munster now. Â I just hope they get rid of the cheap plastic chair on the patio this summer--just so uncomfortable.
I've been to this place a couple of times now, and I have absolutely no complaints. We have always enjoyed our food and the service is wonderful. The portions are huge, and the prices are reasonable. The Northwest Indiana area is so saturated with chain and corporate restaurants that its so nice to have a quality place like this.
My only reason for not giving five stars is for the soft drinks. For 2 bucks you get a can of soda, one. I found that odd for a place like this. Not to mention I can knock out a couple sodas with dinner. Haha.
Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone.
Zucotto....nope i had never hear of this wonderful creation before either.....i will tell you about it in a minute.....
after a fun morning of power shopping at Target....i could spend an entire day in Target :-)....my aunt and i decided to stop in Cafe Borgia on the way home for a lunch of appetizers and coffee....i dont know why it has taken so long to try the new location but im glad we finally did...
the old place in Lansing had its charm, but this new building is really nice.....
we were seated right away got our menus and water...with little lemon slices served along side to add if you want....we started out with an order of garlic bruschetta ....2 nice size baguettes drizzled with olive oil and smelling of wonderful garlic...toasted perfectly....
next we decided to split an order of Calamari.....served either in a marinara sauce or fried....im a sucker for fried squid so we went that way.....cooked to perfection.....lightly breaded and super tender....
a table next to us were having a dessert.....this wonderfull looking chocolate cake.....asking them what it was... the ZUCOTTO....looking at each other ...back to the cake...back to each other...yes we must have that.....
a chocolate dome cake.....filled with chocolate mousse and pistachios ( next to texas pecans the worlds greatest nuts IMHO )....with chocolate and raspberry sauce...this could be the best dessert i have ever had....i want to come back just to have it again....or maybe get some for takeout :-)
the service was outstanding....very attentive without hovering.....professional i guess would be a good way to describe it.....making you feel special....
i dont know why i havent been here since they opened, but a good touch of class to Munster's dining options...... a belated welcome to Mike and Karen Jess ( the owners, Mike is the chef too ) Â .....i will be back very soon i promise......
now just waiting to see if and when Dennis Savard's place will be opening down the street.....
hey if your visiting 3 Floyds....turn south on Calumet when you come out, its right up the road....
Munster rocking the culinary world haha
I'll cut to the chase. Â The one reason I would come back here is for the filet of beef. Â So tender, it pretty much cut like butter. Â Oh, and I like the colorful painted wall and red, hanging, star, pepper things. Â Ok, that's two reasons. Â
Skip the mussels (not the freshest and salty) and stuffed mushrooms (old stuffing). Â Dessert is nothing to rave about either, with the chocolate zuccoto cake being ordinary and the bread pudding like dressed up banana walnut bread from a leftover loaf. Â
Impeccable service!
First things first. Â I like others, wax nostalgic for the Lansing location. Â It is not only the atmosphere that suffers (which I'll touch on shortly) in the new location, but the food as well.
I used to frequent the old location a couple times a month and the new place just doesn't do it for me. Â The decor is nice and understated and they have made strides on reducing the noise problem they had when they opened, but it still feels impersonal and cold. Â The new patio is nice, but until the landscaping grows up, road noise is going to be a problem.
Most importantly, however, the quality of the food has been erratic at best over my past couple visits. Â I have had a combination of the good (pork scallopini), the bad (undercooked pizza) and the ugly (house lasagna that was cold in the middle). Â I don't know the reason, but the quality and the consistency of their food is off and I have become a less frequent diner here because of it.
The waitstaff is still top-notch and if you hit it on the right night, you'll have a great meal.
I have to agree that I miss the little spot in Lansing. The new one is loud in the dining room so I usually eat in the bar but that is the smoking section. Sigh. Summertime is nice as the patio is open - not loud, not smokey.
That said, I have some faves here. The four cheese pizza is always good. Lots of melty cheese like goat and Gorgonzola. Love the house salad and I can't resist some of the little toppings for the bread.
I've never had a bad meal here and Karen and Mike, the owners, are always gracious. The wine selection is good and they make a nice martini.
Cafe Borgia is comfort food to me. The crowd is younger than the other Italian joint in town and you almost always run into someone you know.
Since we couldn't get into Three Floyds AGAIN(too crowded) we stopped here since it was down the road and we were starving.
Great bread, good drinks(but pricey) and pretty yummy food.
Our server Justin was fabulous. Nice decor and reasonable prices
make this a place I'd definitely visit again.
I have frequented this place when coming home to visit family that lives in Indiana.  I really like the atmosphere and the wines, and many of the appetizers-however-the food is mediocre at best. I have absolutely NO idea how anyone can say this food is good.  I ordered a pasta dish that was very salty, and when I told the waiter, he said the chef said-"it is not too salty," and that I had to order something else -as I would still be  charged.  The chef is terrible and must love salt licks.
 Also -it is nice to have waitstaff that can communicate in English.  Our waiter had a hard time understanding us, and speaking, and did a bad job at communicating specials or wine options.  Why can't they employ people that speak English well, and employ people that have a passion for food??  The server had limited knowledge about themenu and wines--not good if you are aiming to bring in high end clientele. We will be giving Cafe Borgia a break  and trying another restaurant for our little get-togethers.
I don't like the atmosphere of the new, larger location. Â It certainly isn't as quaint and charming - feels more corporate and suburban, but you can't argue with someone growing their business with demand. Â And that demand certainly called for an expansion. Â And the demand is justified.
Cafe Borgia has very good Italian food and good service. Â I'm always excited to go back.
Cafe Borgia is one of the best places I've eaten at in a long time. Â The wait staff was so superb, I actually felt like royality. The food was excellent and on a plus they serve Three Floyds beer here too. Â
 Although a bit on the expensive side wth the alcohol, I will be back. It does tend to get crowded as the day goes on so be prepared for a wait.
Mmmmmmm...honestly, I have no idea why it took me so long to finally try out Cafe Borgia. I came here for my birthday dinner back in November with a few girlfriends, and it was fabulous. Â For the most part, it's casual and is definitely cozy - would be a great place to have a date night. Â And it was actually a lot smaller than what I thought it would be (having only driven past it in the past).
They didn't accept reservations, but were easily able to accommodate our group of 6. Service was great, and the dishes are reasonably priced - especially with the amount of food you get. I ended up going with the Linguine Pescatore. Perfect.
I'll definitely be stopping in again soon.
I've been here several times and didn't have great experiences when they first opened this location. Â
Now I am a total fan of theirs. Â Great food and decent prices. Â Note: they don't use chicken breasts, so beware it looks and tastes like Spam. Â But thier pasta, seafood and other meats are excellent. Â Their staff is also top-notch and very attentive. Â Our water glasses never get half empty. Â
Their bar is a trendy setting, but usually overflowing on Thurs - Sun nights. Â When it's that crowded, it's difficult to have a nice conversation anywhere in there because the high ceilings it's noisy.
My advice is to get there later, after 8pm or so has always worked well for me.
Hmmpf.
I could never understand why everyone raved about this place. When it was in its Lansing location, I was never wowed by it. Cafe Borgia always boasted "authentic Roman specialties", but after living in Rome, I've come to judge that these specialities are NOTHING like what they serve in Rome.
Like El Taco Real in Hammond (which I also think is severely overrated), I always thought that Cafe Borgia was an outlet for people living in the south suburbs and Northwest Indiana to brag about. It was a cute little cafe with just a few tables, a fairly well-organized wine list and high-priced dishes. It's pure kitsch, nothing more.
Now that the new Munster location opened, I thought I'd give this place another try. Well, I was disappointed again. Firstly, the interior looks something like a Portillo's--decorated with a black and white checkered floor and a lot of stainless steel. This isn't necessarily a bad thing---it's kind of cool looking, but I wouldn't think that that would be the decor of a restaurant aiming for a high-brow crowd.
I had ravioli. It was $14 and there were seriously only 5 (small-sized) ravioli in the little dish. I'm not one to judge on skimpiness, but since the ravioli weren't all that tasty, I think I have the authority to rant!
I've also never been a fan of Cafe Borgia's sauce. It almost tastes like stewed tomatoes from the can. It's not bad, but it doesn't taste homemade at all.
The pizze are average, at best. The pizza Margherita I chose was not as good as a frozen Meijer brand one I once had. The sauce was extremely, extremely bitter, the mozzarella tasted processed and they used dried basil instead of fresh! What the f, Cafe Borgia??!! Fresh basil could have been your saving grace and I would have given you a slightly better review for it! Now, you must suffer.
The crust, which, if it's supposed to be anything like a Roman pizza, should have been paper-thin, crusty, and slightly sweet with the flavor of  a wood-burning stove. This one TASTED like paper. Maybe they got part of it correct.
I've had much better Italian food in the city and the suburbs--even in Munster. Save your money and get a better deal and food at Giovanni's or somewhere else.
I think the service here is outstanding, and I really admire the way the owners take care of their employees.  (you can read about it on their site under reviews: Restaurant Hospitality magazine  <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cafeborgia.com&s=1fc790edbfcab3309fcfaceaef9ad5d3da8b898fee7c5aa93fe36fb291de7e46" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cafeborgia.com</a>)
The bruchetta is always good and fresh tasting. Â The Chicken Vesuvio is good-but can err on the salty side. I usually stick with a special though as they seem to be more creative and utilize in season ingredients. The prices are moderate, the atmosphere cozy.
This is one of the best kept secrets in the Chicagoland vicinity. Cafe Borgia seems to be an authentic Italian Resturant. Â The resturant is small and quaint, but they will be expanding shortly. Â I highly recommend the yellow tomato salad and the broiled lamb. I am planning on going there again, even though its quite a distance from where I live. Â Try it!
Review Source:Concerning Italian food, in and around Chicago, Cafe Borgia is at the top of my list. Seriously, it's not far from Chicago (about 30 minutes south down 94), exit Torrence South and you're there.
There isn't much parking, it's usually crowded, but the food is just awesome. My favorite is the linguini pescatore and penne porcini, but I'm a sucker for seafood and shrooms. The pasta is and seafood is really fresh and delicious, the gelato rocks, and when the bill comes you'll be shocked at their low prices. Oh yeah, they have a great selection of wine too.
I left Chicago about a year ago, but lived there for almost 30 years and I had been eating at Cafe Borgia for about 15 of those (no, not continuously). I love this place. I'll be honest. Sometimes the service isn't perfect. But the food is awesome. And it takes a lot to keep me going back to the same place for 15 years straight.
My favorites are Lemon Shrimp appetizer and the Veal Limone Entree.
This is seriously good italian food.
Considering the location (outside of the city) Cafe Borgia has great food. Very authentic Italian food and a nice quiet atmosphere to relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine. I always try to get something different--and usually one of the daily specials catches my eye. I've never been disappointed--especially not by the olive plates or other fantastic appetizers (bruschetta, polenta, cheese & olive oil). The service is excellent, too.
If you don't feel like making the trek to the city, this place is a fine alternative!
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