This was my first visit to Sangiovese. Â I chose it based largely on reviews I read here and I couldn't be happier at having chosen it. Â Both I and my date had pasta dishes which were delicious and our waiter suggested an excellent wine based on our meals as well as our comments as to the types of wines we like. Â The staff was friendly and attentive, the ambiance was classy and romantic, and the live music was a fantastic accompaniment and addition to the atmosphere - the music was such that it was very easy to converse but without worrying about voices carrying. Â Being originally from central Indiana and having lived in and around Indy for many years before moving west, I was very pleasantly surprised to find this new (to me) restaurant in the area - and I'm glad I did.
Review Source:I would rarely give five stars after a first visit, but Sangiovese exceeded every expectation. Â I and my dining cohort walked in a few minutes after 9pm, due to most places in the area closing at 9 (including Maggiano's which is normally open till 10pm). Â The bar tender, who served us, let us know the kitchen typically closes at 9 but instantly offered to check with head chef about fixing us something anyway.
The chef agreed to a couple pastas. Â I ordered the Penne alla Emiliana and my wing man the Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Â Both meals were out in no time and delicious. The bartender took excellent care of our needs. I will definitely make a return visit.
Sangiovese gets my vote for best Italian in Indianapolis, hands down. The regular menu is solid, but always get the rundown on the daily specials - they're reliably fabulous! Sit at the bar and let Kosmos serve you - he is friendly but professional, and knows the menu and features inside and out. The wine list is reasonably priced, and the specialty cocktails are yummy: try the Etta James!
Review Source:My mothers maiden name is Pelaggi, and I lived in Boston until several months ago. Clearly my preferences for NFL teams won't go very far in this town, BUT, you can trust, if nothing else, my opinion on Italian food.
Yelp describes its two star rating as "Meh. I've experienced better." Â Well, Yelp has said it better than I can.
Meh. Â
Meh food at a Meh price. Â
This ain't real Italian. Â It's not even a good imitation. Â This is a place that would be described in Donnie Brasco as a fughazi. Â Do yourself a favor and go to Capri ten minutes down the road.
I enjoyed my first experience here this past Saturday. (11/2/12) The service was very good and prompt. We had reservations (highly recommended for weekends) at 6:15 pm and we arrived about 6:10 pm. We were seated promptly and greeted by Connie, our waitress. She was fantastic all night. She did a fine job explaining all of the options and the specials. She deserves five stars. The food was where it got three stars. My wife got a lobster and shrimp pasta dish that was outstanding. I wish I would have got it. I opted for the lasagna, which was just ok. The marinara sauce tasted like it came out of a can. It was bland and watery. I expected better. The side salad was a bit overpriced ($9) and it was just ok. Overall, we enjoyed our experience and we may go back again.
Review Source:Service here deserves 10 stars. Â We were warmly greeted by the host and shown to our table. Â On our way out, another restaurant employee thanked us for dining with them...in both cases it wasn't the typical scripted "hello and thank you" that you get at most restaurants, it seemed very sincere. Â Our server was very solid, checked back for drink refills without being intrusive and was generally on top of everything.
I have not tried any of the appetizers here, but the entrees have all been excellent. Â The caesar salad is consistently fresh and has just the right amount of dressing.
*Love* the live music here...has sort of a Rat Pack / lounge feel without being cheesy. Â I've always come for dinner but would consider coming for drinks, sitting in the bar and listening to the music.
Definitely try Sangiovese if you are in the mood for Italian. Â Much more character than any of the chains and as good or better than any of the local spots.
Love the patio in back and the atmosphere!
I love the appetizers especially the goat cheese appetizer and the procuitto wrapped shrimp. When my husband and I go we order a couple apps, a salad, and pasta entree. Once the pasta dish was a bit salty (the penne Emiliana) but otherwise everything else has been delicous.
I think this is the best in Indy as far as the whole package. I have been to Mama Corollas and although the food is good the inside atmosphere is cramped and outdated and the service is terrible.
At Sangiovese the atmosphere is hip and classy, the servers and staff is very friendly and attentive.
Defintely will be back!
This review is solely on the food since I got take out. The bread with oil is under par. Â The wedge salad with blue cheese dressing and veal marsala are a 10 out of 10. I don't even like blue cheese, but DEVOURED this mild flavored yet scrumptious salad within a few minutes. The veal was served with a plain risotto and a squash/zuchini mix that was well seasoned and perfectly cooked. I will definitely order that salad and entree again and again.
The lasagna had a strong fennel sausage taste. I have always hated Italian sausage because of the fennel taste, Â but their's is just under my tolerance level, so I'd say if you like Italian sausage, then you'll probably love the lasagna. The salad and two entrees were $44 something dollars for takeout (before tip), so it's not cheap but not outrageous.
I will definitely dine outside in the back next time for the ambiance. Can't wait to go back.
PRO:
+ Nice decor
+ Friendly staff
+ Live music on the weekends.
CON:
+ The food was only so-so
+ Far too expensive for what they provide
+ I can't prove it, but I'd swear the food was loaded with MSG.
+ The wait staff was slow and inattentive.
+ Wait staff dropped glasswear SEVERAL times that night.
The food was just OK, worth about 1/2 the price they charge for it. The Filet Mignon was substandard, a bit tough, and poorly seasoned. The potatoes were dull and lifeless. For certain personal reasons, I really wanted to like this place. But my assessment is that they are a bush league outfit trying to act like they are in the major leagues (with prices to match) and they don't quite know what they're doing. I would not eat there again. If you want the Real Deal, try Mama Carolla's.
This was my second visit to San Giovese. Â I had lived in San Diego California where they have some great authentic Italian restaurants (i.e. Â Arrivederci in Hillcrest, Mamma Mia in Pacific Beach, even Pinocchios in North Beach in San Francisco is Italian. Â They have real Italian chefs, owners, and servers) Â (students from UCSD). Â
I didn't expect much from Central Indiana, but Sangiovese is a great place if you want affordability. Â If you are searching for Italian atmosphere, try somewhere else. Â The food is pretty excellent. Â I wish they would lay off the salt for the Veal Scalloppini, but as a few other reviewers commented, it does make you wanna lick the plate.
I did, with my bread. Â The marsala sauce is divine. Â Kelleen Stutz and her friends serenade us on Thursday nights, which is excellent entertainment, but you don't hear Italian spoken, none of the music is ever Italian. Â So for affordable Italian food, this is a great place, however if you want old school Italian where they greet you with a warm "buona sera" when you arrive. Â Fuhgeddaboutit...
When you need to take a relaxing break from a hectic week this is the place. The combination of colors, lighting, music and art mark this the perfect place to finally let out a sigh as you take a sip of you favorite well constructed libation. Excellent food and fairly priced. Waitstaff is great and Andy at the bar is the consummate mixologist. Â Live music in the bar seems to happen regularly. I love the mushroom and bow-tie pasta. Most mushroom dishes are light on the mushrooms but they really have a generous portion of mushrooms. I also recommend the the simple but perfect lettuce wedge.
Review Source:Great food and outstanding service!! The oil you dip your bread in is made there and it is wonderful.It is in a strip mall but,once you walk inside you forget that. I had the spaghetti carbonara and it was fantastic. The wife had the special which was a sirloin  with pine nits in a reduction of something. It was freaking great!!! Very tender and properly cooked. For three of us with 2 wines and 2 beers bill was right at 100.00 before tip. Will be back!!!
Review Source:Wow, I hope the live band is paid well because that's the only thing going for this restaurant. The goat cheese appetizer didn't taste like goat cheese - it's more of a tasteless whipped ricotta jello. The pitiful salad is $7, the size of a $1 McDonald's salad and not as good as McDonald's either. I ordered spaghetti alla carbonara as my entree and it was vulgar. The "cream sauce" tasted more like corn starch and powdered milk. The spaghetti was so overdone it was all broken into two-inch pieces like Chef Boyardee kid's food. I couldn't eat it. My husband ordered mushroom ravioli and I swear the sauce was Prego, but his dish was probably better than mine because it was prepared elsewhere. I wanted to support a local small business, but I think I'll stick to Maggiano's down the street.
Review Source:Why I have lived here so long and not been to Sangiovese is beyond me. They have a lounge band (who's wonderful), gorgeous art on the walls, and  it is beautifully low-lit. Our server was fantastic.....the food was phenomenal! Tiramisu--absolutely the best in town, which they will tell you themselves. I had an enormous grilled salmon salad--and ate every last bite. The lasagna and tilapia special was delicious, too (I tried everyone's!). Also, the pricing, I thought, was very reasonable for what you get. I can't wait to go back.
Wonderful wine selection, also! Had the most delectable red from Sicily.
This is a hidden gem located in a strip mall next to the Demetrios bridal store and a bike shop. Once inside the fireplace and piano player provide a nice feeling of ambiance.
The service was excellent, I sat at the bar for dinner and the bartender was friendly, providing conversation and making recommendations regarding the menu.
The food was quite good, Chicken Siciliana with fresh vegetable and a salad. Everything tasted very fresh and was served at a good hot temperature. I really enjoyed dinner there.
We ordered the chicken alfredo & it was alright. The thing that was great about the dish is, there was plenty of white sauce, so we weren't stuck with dry noodles minus the sauce. Which is way to popular at certain restaurants. I'm always in to trying new things, this was good family night meal. I will have to go to dine in. The guy that took my order was very patient & went over the whole menu with me literal, since this was my first time eating there. I have a huge family so he explained the portion sizes & recommended accordingly. I truly am thankful for this & will look forward to actually going in side the next go round!
Review Source:After driving around for 15-20 minutes trying to find a non-chain restaurant in the Castleton area, my husband and I ended up at Sangiovese on a Friday night around 8:00. There was no wait to be seated, which was great (possibly because of the construction surrounding the restaurant), and although our server was not terribly attentive, we still really enjoyed our meal. The menu is not huge, but there is a decent variety of heavy vs. light food as well as expensive vs. reasonable pricing. My husband was a bit disappointed that there were no draft beers, but he did find a new Belgian beer he'd never had before and liked it. The wine list was ample but not overwhelming, and I had a glass of Merlot that hit the spot.
For our meal, I had the roasted tomato soup and a wedge salad. The soup was fantastic; it had a smoky flavor from the fire-roasted tomatoes that I've never tasted in tomato soup before. The wedge salad was also good, with marinated tomatoes on top that were a nice touch. My husband ordered farfalle with mushrooms, and the mushroom I tried was roasted perfectly--very meaty.
The ambiance in here is really nice: low lighting and private tables, and the night we were in a jazz duo was playing, with one of the guys busting out some jazz flute on some of the songs.
have only ate here once, this past saturday. Â there's a fireplace, there's a piano man, there's a strip mall.. what? Â the strip mall & construction outside aside, my meal was delicious and the wine was fabulous. Â we had a $10 off 2 dinners coupon so that made it even better. Â i'll definitely be back.
Review Source:Thanks, Yelpers. Â I was looking for something that was A. near my hotel, B. wasn't a nationally owned chain that I can find near home and C. fine dining that wouldn't break my bankroll or kick me out for wearing casual attire. Â The retro signage helped draw me in too (I love 50-60's design). Â
I had one of the nightly specials, a creamy risotto with wild mushrooms, sweet peas, gorgonzola (I think) and duck breast.  It was rich, well prepared and delicious.  The duck was grilled to a perfect medium rare and wasn't greasy in the least.  I sat at the bar and Andrew the bartender was a great guy and very attentive server.  There were several specials  that night and the menu had enough options for anyone in your party.  .
Very, very good Italian. I should know...I'm Italian. ;)
The outside isn't impressive -- it's in a strip mall next to a bike shop -- but the inside is wonderfully decorated and reasonably intimate. On the night we were there for our anniversary, there was a jazz pianist playing on the baby grand in the bar, which pleasantly filtered out into the main dining area where we sat.
The menu is stocked with wonderful genuine Italian dishes, not just the "American" Italian you see at chains. I, though, chose that evening's special -- baked tilapia in a white wine/tomato sauce with crab. Now, I've had a lot of seafood, both here and out on the east coast, and I can confidently say this was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Normally I'm hesitant to order seafood in central Indiana, but I decided to give it a shot. It was cooked *perfectly* and the sauce was wonderful.
My wife had some sort of pasta dish in another type of wine sauce, which I can't recall the name of but was also incredibly delicious.
Overall, a great gem amid lots of questionable restaurants on the north side. Not cheap, but not that expensive either, especially considering the quality of the food. We'll definitely be back, hopefully when it's a bit cooler so we can sit outside and enjoy the view of the river!
This place is really, really good. Just about as good as it gets. It was much too hot to sit outside this time (although we tried) and the scenery is just as good as I remember. Inside was a better dining experience this time though. The atmosphere inside is quiet and romantic and is enhanced by the live piano playing from the bar area. I got a real good look at the fully stocked bar this time. It is actually quite large and would provide more than ample space to enjoy a meal and a drink (or four.) The soft drink selection is limited, and their ice tea is good, but I just wish that they had lemonade. I enjoy it with my Italian dishes more than wine.
I couldn't really decide what I wanted from the menu, and since I wanted something with pasta and chicken, the waitress suggested that I tell her what I want the chef will make something up. A great move on my part, because now the chef gets to show off his talents. What he came up with was exactly what I wanted. It was similar to the Pasta Pomodoro at Bravo, but better. The grilled chicken that he serve up with my angel hair and marinara with spinach and onion was fantastico! It was soooo good, that I didn't want to eat it all so that I could purposely have leftovers at home!
Service was really good this time. Drinks were always filled and our server was patient with my indecision with the menu. Uh, oh, Bravo, you might have just been replaced...
We love this quaint little Italian restaurant tucked away in a "strip mall", but the atmosphere inside makes up for it. Warm velvet drapes on the windows and a nice bar. The outside has a wonderful deck and you can view the pond. I have tried several dishes and love the lasagna. Everything is always delicious. Service is friendly and the drink specials on martinis are half off on Wed.! They have a jazz singer or piano player and the music sets a romantic backdrop. Â We love this place and we like to go as much as we can.
Review Source:If you want good Italian food go here, not some chain like Buca di Beppo. Â I brought my girlfriend here for dinner on a Friday night and I don't think she was too impressed when we pulled into a strip mall. Â Don't let that fool you, though, because the inside is very nice. Â We ate outside and it was also a nice setting. Â There were, however, some bugs flying around due to it being around 10 pm on a humid day and being right next to the White River. Â A good portion of the outside is covered, so it's probably awesome when it's raining out. Â We were the only people out there and the waitstaff set up a table for us even after they'd cleaned everything up outside. Â Every server we encountered was very hospitable and helpful and my girlfriend even commented a few days later that she thought everyone there was super nice. Â Also, this is the first place I've ever been to that put enough cheese on my chicken parmesan-I'm a cheese man. Â All the food we had was delicious, and they've got a great menu. Â Basically, great food, great setting, great service, and very good prices.
Review Source:I came here with my bf & his family after a weekend full of eating, eating...and more eating. I thought I wouldn't be hungry, but when I caught the first whiff of Sangiovese I knew I could be persuaded.
Sangiovese is in a strip mall...in Indy. Yep, that's how them hoosiers do it. Completely unassuming & unpretentious, just the way I like. We got seated pretty quickly & once the menus were in front of us we were off!
We ordered shrimp wrapped in prosciutto & mussels for our appetizers. While I didn't think the mussels were anything to write home about, the shrimp app was pretty decent. It had just the right amount of char, but was very delicate & salty due to the prosciutto. We each then split a wedge salad, which was pretty average. We each ordered an entree, but were all pretty stuffed by then.
I ordered some special that was three super-sized tortellini filled with mozzarella & veal. Now I never eat veal...never ever, but for some reason I felt the need to try it. It came with a sauce that kind of tasted like minestrone & the texture of the mozzarella with the pasta & veal was awesome, but OH MY GOD IT SO SALTY! I'm not quite sure what they were trying to cover up or if that's just how them Indianaians do it, but wow. I ate most of it since we were with my bf's family, but I left the majority of my wine glass full while kept getting refills on my water. If you know me you know I'm not normally like that...I like my wine ;-)
Ryan had carbonara, which was pretty delish., his momma had tilapia with lump crab meat on top, and his papa had the house specialty which was lasagna. We all enjoyed our meals, but weren't blown away. I would go back to try other entrees if I'm in Indy, but would definitely ask them to hold the salt since it seemed to be a common theme in all of the entrees.
My most pleasant restaurant experience in the past few months, much to my surprise, came from an Italian restaurant at an Indianapolis stripmall. Â We were the first to arrive on a slow night and told by the manager / bartender "Sit at the bar, I will be far more entertaining there." Â This fellow, Jim (I think) was truly hilarious, brutally honest about the menu, and had an excellent knowledge of the wine. Â We tried the meatballs, penne, and caprese salad - all were excellent. Â Jim even made some concoction which cured (I swear) my counterpart's lost voice - that's going above and beyond.
Before my visit to Sangiovese, I forgot that it was possible to go to a restaurant and get not only a great meal, but also an incredible experience.
Why does Northeast Indy have such a dirty love for strip malls? Â Sangiovese deserves a unique and inviting exterior to match what it offers inside those mall doors. Â A female friend and I, after some online searching, randomly decided on an early Tuesday Italian dinner. Â
Because it was a slow night, we sat at the bar and received some of the best service I have ever had. Â The bartender, who I think was named Jim, might have been Irish, and was co-owner.. maybe, made us feel like we were regulars. Â He gave us honest opinions on any dish we ask about and quickly followed up each with a wine recommendation. Â Great food, a chill atmosphere, and even some custom made drinks from maybe-Jim who you could tell loved his job. Â It was like they shut down the place just for us to enjoy their food, drinks, and engaging (but not overbearing) conversation.
This place is in a stripmall and has a rather gaudy sign out front. Â So imagine my surprise when I step into a restaurant lit by soft, red lights, and staffed by men in ties and multiple live, lounge singers. Â The staff seemed slightly taken aback by our under-dressed appearance, but were exceedingly professional about it. Â In fact, the waiter rattled off a list of daily specials and their descriptions that even someone who understands Italian's head would be spinning.
Imagine too, the waiter's smarmy conceit when we ordered salads and water to go with the free bread--but, come one, a plate of food costs more than the shirt I had on (about $15-$20 each, depending greatly on the fanciness of the meat). Â To be fair, at no point was the service openly rude or even bad, so it's entirely possible that any ill feelings I felt were entirely imagined. Â Be sure you go to this place well-dressed (no suit necessary, but "something nice" would do), and with the intention of spending a fair sum.
You can either sit inside or out on their balcony. Â The balcony overlooked a wooded lake with a large sand barge in the middle, while people interested in hearing the live music will have to stay indoors.
The salad was stellar, by the way. Â So was the bread.
One might assume that Indianapolis is incapable of offering fine cuisine in the Italian realm, however, we all know what can happen when we ASSuME.
Sangiovese proves wrong all naysayers, providing an ideal blend of relaxing atmosphere, great food, courteous and informed staff and live entertainment. You will struggle to find better Italian food anywhere in Indiana, and now the locally-owned, northside spot is reaching out to a nightlife audience, as they have already established two regular weekly events (Flirt Wednesdays and Tantivy Thursdays) featuring local DJs, a sexy crowd, and in some cases, live art and fashion events.
The restaurant also provides some of the best outdoor dining in the city. Here in the Midwest, dining enthusiasts race to the restaurants that feature decks and rooftop dining during the few months of the year where it can be comfortable to eat outside. Sangiovese's deck seats at least a few dozen tables, and is not adjacent to any busy street or noisy clutter. In fact, quite the opposite is true: the deck, located on the backside of the restaurant, faces a secluded section of the White River and provides a spectacular view, particularly as the sun sets during evening dining. This is another example of one of Sangiovese's best qualities: you can take a date, a group of friends, or your parents and be equally comfortable with the atmosphere and the service.
As if eating, drinking and dancing weren't enough, Sangiovese also offers catering services and delivers (minimum order required) anywhere in the greater Indianapolis area. If you're a business needing a lunch catered, be sure to give them a shot.
Located in between Keystone and Allisonville on 82nd Street. Do yourself a favor and grab dinner at Sangiovese. Stick around on Wednesday or Thursday for DJs (starting at 10pm). One meal at this place and you'll be booking your next reservation!
I was recently at this Italian restaurant for a date and I must say it is wondertastic. Â
It's located just east of the Castleton Mall area in a strip mall on the north side (don't miss it!) and right in front of a movie theater so it's very convenient for you dinner and a movie buffs.
Great ambiance, a nice restaurant to take someone for a first date. Â The food is excellent. Â There are always a few specials. Â I had been here once previously and I swear the waiter wanted to sleep with the entire menu he was so adjective-crazy. Â If I heard 'succulent' one more time I was going to take it as an insult that he was hitting on my girlfriend and take him outside (but after my lasagna).
ANYWHO... what was I talking about? Â italian hookers... no that wasnt it... food! Â Food yes that's it. Â My date and I both had the lasagna. Â Two sauced and, yes, succulent... it was one of the best lasagna dishes I've ever had. Â
The waiter was very friendly and attentive. Â Check the place out if you get a chance!
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