Martini's Italian Bistro isn't called "Martini's" for nothing! I walked in expecting that they would have a few good martinis, but oh no - I was pleasantly surprised to find that they have around 50 or so martinis that you can order from! My boyfriend and I went during happy hour which is Monday - Friday from 3-7 pm; during happy hour most of their martinis are only $5 which is the greatest thing ever, right? Don't let your wallet run away with you but do try at least a couple of them! I tried the Royal Flush (one their popular bourbon martinis), the Blood Orange martini and to top them off, I had the Ultimate Chocolate martini. They were all so good and the bourbon martinis are especially unique - in the spirit of Kentucky and it being the land of bourbon I recommend getting one of the 6 bourbon martinis. Part of what made our experience so enjoyable was our bartender, Colleen, who was extremely knowledgeable about all the drinks and she was so very willing to suggest drinks to my boyfriend and me. She was very attentive and talkative with my boyfriend and myself which was readily welcomed (since some bartenders can be stand-offish). Colleen recommended I try the blood orange martini and I'm so glad I did. In addition to the martinis we had the buschetta; the bartender prepared it for us right there at the bar which in my opinion, was pretty neat. We didn't have any entrees so I may not comment on that but overall the service was great and the martinis were fabulous. You definitely get your money's worth when ordering your beverages, so thumbs up for that! The inside of the restaurant is very cute too and I would say it is almost what you expect of a cute little Italian bistro. The atmosphere here makes Olive Garden feel like fast food. Ultimately, Martini's Italian Bistro is a great little place to eat or even to just get drinks after work. Afterwards, you can always bar hop (since there's other places to eat around there) or shop since it's in the shopping center! Whatever floats your boat!
(4)
Taryn M.
If there are two things I love most in life, it's wine and a good pasta. With that being said, Martini's has both...and some of the best pasta dishes I have ever tried in my life. Among multiple visits, this place never disappoints. The bread is amazing! Try the house salad instead of the Caesar as it is very unique! One of my favorite dishes is the rigatoni, which is rich and creamy. The spicy sausage pasta is definitely a good choice too. And of course the lasagna...enough for two people to share or enough for a meal the next day! Of the two years I've been in Louisville, this place has quickly become my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is fun and service is usually very good. Thursday's during the summer they have live music right outside...so definitely a great place to visit once, or many times.
(5)
Adrianna S.
I stopped here as a late night dinner with a girlfriend after a coctail party...we didn't need much, just a glass of wine and something small to eat...we ate at the bar, with a friendly and attentive bartender. She was there when we needed her, but didn't hover, my absolutely favorite type of service provider... My glass was very dirty when I got my first glass of wine, but the bartender promptly fixed that. We ordered the baked goat cheese, which was exactly what I had expected, except I would have liked bread instead of crispy pita things...not really sure what they were... We also ordered the large House Salad, which...was...fantastic!!! The dressing really did it, but the simplicity of it, with some bacon crumbles and gorgonzola cheese was just what we needed... There was this foul smell that kinda killed it, though...that end of the night bar needs to be cleaned smell...but, to be fair, it was the end of the night, and they were closing...so, there were a few reasons they did not get all 4 stars, but if I stay at the Hilton Garden Inn there, again, I am sure I will be back for that salad!!!
(4)
Mr And Mrs G.
MR says... MRS says... lasagna is humongous! good to share else have it TOGO which is good for at least 2 more meals ~ what a deal! quality of food is excellent. restaurant ambiance with live music is elegant.
(4)
Johnny T.
A solid 3.5 but the service tipped them to a 4. I hadn't been here in years. I remember liking all the dishes I had, but it was nothing to make me rush back. It was sort of like flipping channels on a Saturday afternoon, catching an episode of 'America's Test Kitchen' (you totally thought I was about to write Next Top Model, didn't you?) and watching it through. Enjoyable, but you wouldn't rush home to make sure you missed the episode. So, when I found out that some of my mom's friends were planning on throwing her a birthday party here, I went along not expecting much. I was wrong. Again, the food was good to pretty good. The complimentary bread is always a hit. The house dressing makes the salad pop and it's hard to go wrong with chicken, capers and artichoke hearts. No, what impressed me was the level of service. We had one waitress for 15 people in a private room and she was on top of her game the entire time. She remembered orders, filled drinks without asking, fielded questions about calories, took photos, got the food out hot and timely, kept us apprised of what was going on at all times, and went out of her way to make my mom feel special. She had automatic gratuity. She didn't have to do any of this. The fact that she did impressed me. Greatly. In addition to her, the hostess gave my mom a birthday card with a nice, personalized note inside (gotta love Southern touches). The chef came into our private room to chat us up. The house comped some of the most delicious chocolate mousse birthday cake I have ever had and my mom left the meal on cloud 9. You made my mom feel special on her big day. I am in your debt. Thank you, Martini Italian Bistro. Thank you.
(4)
Cheryl S.
Great Martini's, go for the ultimate with Vodka and blue cheese olives. The bartender, Colleen is absolutely fabulous (AB FAB)! Good good. The only flat note is the piano needs some serious tuning.
(4)
Lorna B.
Elegant place with live piano music. White table cloths. Great Italian restaurant with different choices of appetizers. Fabulous Martini menu ! And After visiting several times, service is consistently great ! Always enjoy an evening there.
(5)
Erin S.
When I think of Martini's, the first word that comes to mind is consistency. I have yet to have a meal here I haven't liked. If you're in the mood for moderately priced Italian food made from scratch, Martini's is a must. I ate here for a late Sunday lunch with family and enjoyed the house salad and rigatoni bolognese. The service was attentive and professional and the atmosphere was quite relaxing. I'll be back the next time I'm in need of a major dose of carbs and cheese!
(4)
Martin H.
Great service, decent food and upscale settings for a reasonable price. Try the pasta or the scallops!
(4)
D C.
As always, the food and drinks were good! The service was marginal at best. Received what seemed like stale bread ( server told us it's usually softer and warner if you come for lunch.....really!). We didn't receive our antipasto salad until after our dinner came and we reminded our server. Server was self-described "overwhelmed" with the 4 tables she had....this was a Wed. night! Don't understand why restaurants set servers up to fail if they are not ready to handle tables on their own. We'll probably go back due to food quality and good martini happy hour!
(3)
Jennifer F.
Food was amazing!!!! Very authentic!!! Service was very elegant and polite!! I will be back!!
(4)
Lawrence J.
This is one of the better restaurants in that used in the Louisville I love it the stuff is great and also the managers always greet you he remembers your name. This is somewhere that I would go every week and also recommend friends to go there or take them with me.
(5)
Cathy J.
I wasn't quit sure what to think of this place, me and my husband went here for the first time for our first date night without the kids. I searched yelp to see how many stars they got and they got a pretty good number and the photos looked great. Our server was ok but wasn't knowledgable about the menu. We would ask questions and he'd divert to something else plus we sat outside and our plates we're a little dirty. We ordered the shrimp scampi and lasagna...the shrimp scampi only had 3 pieces of shrimp but decent in taste, not the best I've had. The lasagna was huge and again just ok nothing to really talk about. The side bread they gave with the olive oil was good. I'd probably come back for happy hour.
(2)
Judy H.
We ate there last night for the first time. Everything was excellent!! The house salad was a delicious start to my meal. I had the shrimp scampi which was delicious! Our servers name was Mackey. He was very friendly and knew lots about the menus. We will definitely be back!! Thank you for a great first experience!!
(5)
Thao T.
All my 6 dinner mates and I said after our very fulfilling and delicious meals was, we can't belive this place got such low ratings. By ignoring the ratings we found a gem. The portions are large and the entrees are delicious. The appetizers: The mussels were fresh and one of the best I've had. The appetizer platter was large and great to share. The house salad was unique bc of the tasty sauce and the tomato bisque was thick and creamy. I enjoyed the fig porkchop, it was topped with a dark creamy sauce of figs and mushrooms. The salmon was spicy, which I liked. My friend's tofu dish came with spaghetti squash, a pleasant surprise. All my friends enjoyed their meals. I have no problems against chains, they got where they are because a majority of the people liked their food. This is the type of place I would take my parents and family for a nice dinner. I know the majority would just eat it up!
(4)
Ngocuyen N.
I loved everything I tried. Despite generous size appetizers and decent portion entrees, all except one of us finished out food. It was that good. The upscale decor and polite servers made me forget that this was a chain restaurant. It was darn-there's-no-place-to-spit-out-my-gum fancy. The food was great, everything from what I ordered I what I sampled. Pork chop was well seasoned. Risotto was the perfect texture. Sea bass was tender, a perfect pairing with the risotto. The prices were a bit high, but for the quality of food and nice ambiance, it was worth it. Not your everyday dining for my budget but definitely a place I would consider for a more special occasion.
(4)
Aaron F.
Great food, everything tastes fresh. Had the Minestrone soup, well flavoured. Also the spaghetti and hand-rolled meatballs in tomato sauce with whole wheat pasta. Meatballs were soft and tender and bursting with flavour. Great. Also Sausage Arabiatta which has penne pasta, spicy Italian sausage, olives, onions with spicy marinara. We had it without the olives (personal choice). The dish is a little spicy for my taste, but the person who ordered it loved it all. We cleaned our plates. Our server was a little relaxed "should I grab you another glass of wine?", but no big deal. He cleared a 4-top for two of us, and left the bread plates to our right and not the left. Ok too. Served our drinks to the left side of the plate instead of the right side. Also ok... maybe he was European? All no big deal. The food was good and arrived at the table quickly. And we ate it all. Still have not gotten to the deserts, but I hear they are great.
(4)
Tom C.
I went here for happy hour and left very happy.They had martinis(go figure) and well drinks on special. I opted for a Bass,felt like beer with my food have to run tomorrow so no wine. I wanted to go light so went with the spinach al forno,fresh sauteed spinach with artichoke,sundried tomatoes baked in a Parmesan cream sauce and served with garlic Parmesan crostinis-very good. They also offer "taste teasers" for $2.99 per order at the bar after 4pm.I ordered the fried raviolis and risotto balls.The raviolis were nice and light but the marinara sauce was too light with the garlic and not enough spiciness.The risotto balls(two of course) suffered the same lack of machismo but were delicious none the same. I liked the fell of the place,even though I felt I was at the high school dance with four tables of women along the windows and groups of guys at the bar c'mon people mingle!Server was nice and on top of things although a little busy.Got to go back and try some more teasers,entrees, and see if I can't encourage some mingling.
(4)
Caroline T.
I had lunch here with my husband and mother-in-law when we were in town over Thanksgiving. They both ordered the blackened tilapia salad, and I had rigatoni bolognese with a dirty vodka martini. The place is located in a suburban strip mall, so admittedly, I didn't have the highest expectations going in, but the food was halfway decent. My bolognese tasted like bolognese, and the martini was smooth. I'd put it a notch above Olive Garden.
(3)
Alfonso E.
This restaurant was not my choice for lunch on a random Monday. Given its suburban shopping center location and suburban shopping center decor, I was certainly expecting suburban shopping center quality food. So I ordered a safe shopping center restaurant kind of dish: chicken caesar salad. Results: even more mediocre than I imagined. Same with the calamari appetizer, and the pizza and burger ordered by my lunch companions.
(2)
Dr Eric L.
We had excellent pasta and very good steaks the place is under rated
(4)
Jenny G.
I wanted to give the review 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up because I had a great night out with the girls. We arrived during happy hour and friends took advantage of the $5 martinis (there is an extensive martini list). All three were delicious. For food, we had the Bruschetta for an appetizer. Not your typical small pieces of French bread topped with tomatoes and cheese, but rather three large slices of bread topped with tomatoes, cheese, balsamic sauce. It was a tasty appetizer. I wasn't impressed with the house salad; small and the house dressing tasted like it was made with Splenda or some other artificial sweetener. For an entree, I recommend the Shrimp Garganelli- jumbo gulf shrimp with crushed red pepper, spinach, oven roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, and jumbo gulf shrimp in a white wine sauce. It was plenty to eat and very good. Dessert was a total let down. 4 of us ordered 4 desserts and there were all less than stellar. The waitress recommended the raspberry creme cake; it tasted stale and lacked flavor. The tiramisu also lacked flavor, although was prepared very nicely. The cheesecake had way too much of a lemon/lime flavor for my liking (being that it was supposed to be plain cheesecake). I ordered the Pisa pie; butter fudge ice cream with peanutbutter, Oreo crust, fudge, and oven roasted peanuts. It was so-so, nothing to write home about. I've had multiple menu items at Martini and all are good, but I prefer Volare for a good Italian meal.
(4)
Stephanie C.
Not enough can be said about this place. The martinis were on point, the food was amazing, and the service was great! We had the Bruschetta for our appetizer. Initially I was not going to have any, but my date insisted after he tasted the explosion of flavor. I have in and I was not disappointed. The best Bruschetta that I have b had. For my entree I ordered the Chicken Carbonara... Again, I was not disappointed. Perfect parts of each; bacon, sauce, chicken, spinach. Unfortunately I couldn't eat it all because I had a piece of the bruschetta. I took my leftovers home and I always know that if food taste good cold... It was definitely amazing. Martini has a leg martini selection and of course I was ecstatic when I learned that they had my favorite; French Martini. I have not been able to find a suitable French Martini in the Louisville area, but again... Martini did not disappoint. As I stated before it was on point. The only complain that I have is the background music. The grand piano is somewhat obnoxious if you are in the front area of the restaurant. In the dining area it's not so bad... Until they start playing other instrumental music through the sound system. They were overpowering one another and sounded horrible. That was not a huge deal because it was only noticed for a moment and we were able to talk over it without yelling. For that I won't deduct a star from my rating. Other than the piano the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)
Lauren H.
Beautiful interior, prompt service, and the food is always excellent. I'm definitely a fan of Martini's. Martini's is a step above the chain Italian restaurants (Olive Garden, Carrabas, etc) while still remaining in their affordable price point. The atmosphere is airy and elegant. The service is attentive and each course is served timely. The drink menu is extensive, with martinis of all sorts (vodka, bourbon, etc). They offer $5 martinis during happy hour. And most importantly, the food is fantastic. Really, everything I've had from Martini's has been great. Throughout many visits I've had: chicken alfredo, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken carbonara. Everything is delicious and served in a huge portion, with my favorite (so far) being the lasagna. When I visit, I have the hardest time deciding what to order because the entire menu sounds fabulous. There are at least five more entrees on my "to try" list before I can pick a favorite. Even the house salad is a step above the rest. Forget the measly lettuce with a few tomatoes or olives, Martini's house salad has gorgonzola cheese and bacon! There are other vegetables tossed in there too, but my taste buds didn't care. I will add that though I don't believe it's a chain, Martini's does have a commercialized feel. The food is "Americanized" Italian; the quick service leads me to think servers are trained to turn over tables; the beautiful decor seems a bit predictable. It seems to have all the elements of a chain Italian place, just done better. So, heads up: if you want an authentic, cozy, local place, you might want to save Martini's for another night. The food at Martini's is definitely worth a visit (or a few)!
(4)
Nilsa A.
Happy hour Martini's $5, apps also reduced. The bartenders were very knowledgeable preparing the drinks. They were quick to offer suggested drinks and food choices. There was a piano bar and the lady was great. Nice atmosphere, good crowd. A must return.
(5)
Scott F.
Goat cheese appetizer was very good. Salads were light and wonderful. We had lasagna, sicillian pizza, chicken carbonaro, and chicken parmesan. All was very good. Sat outside on patio which was nice but they needed some background music. Also they broke dishes 3 times near where we were sitting.
(4)
Woody W.
The food is good, not much better than the typical Olive Garden experience. They take themselves a bit serious for a chain restaurant, but it will do in a bind.
(3)
Mark P.
i appreciate your attempt at gluten free foods, but when we ordered the gluten free salmon entree on Dec 9 2011 it was served with breaded onions on top. Please train your staff about preparation of gluten free foods
(4)
Mike H.
Martini's never ceases to un-amaze me. Sadly because of its proximity, many of us venture over to this late evening establishment after a day's long work. Every time, every dish, every appetizer, and every experience continues to diminish in quality, taste and appeal. I have tried almost everything from their shrimp & lobster pasta to the chicken masala. Nothing tastes like the traditional classical dishes and even in its "new-age spin" lacks any flavor to call it a standalone rendition. For christ sake, my chicken masala was tomato based that was neither masala nor chicken parm - and just utter crap. Avoid this place at all costs. Take your money - and just go one block north under the highway to Olive Garden. Even though OG is a Darden chain, it totally beats Martini's. (And yes, I can't believe I'm recommending OG over this...but yes this is how bad Martini's is...) ...but the drinks are good. You can't really mess up liquor now... or can you?
Love the staff because they greeted us with a smile! Chicken fettuccine blacken was great! I was there for a work function and it was a great experience for me.
(4)
Romel A.
Service is excellent, cozy ambience and food is delicious! The bread is to die for, the house salad with vinaigrette dressing I ordered is just so fresh & crisp, and finally the chicken carbonara is so deliciously filling, I like it that they add some spinach which adds color & texture to it! A half liter carafe of freshly brewed iced tea finished it off!
(4)
Leo P.
Leo P The meal and the service was quite enjoyable and the waitress was attentive, but the experience was over shadowed by an inconsiderate patron of the restaurant . Why ? My friend and I were having dinner on their patio on a delightful evening on July 24 2014, when another Customer decided to smoke several cigarettes outside on the patio and completely ruined the flavor of our food. Martini should ban smoking on the patio so that all can enjoy eating al fresco. In this day and age and with all that is known about the dangers of 2 nd hand smoke this behavior is unacceptable to the vast majority of non smokers
(3)
Amanda A.
Martini's is the kind of place that in my younger days I might have turned my nose up at. However, visiting here with some lady friends recently, I was delighted to find a comprehensive menu containing drinks that are not actually martinis, but rather are just cocktails served in martini glasses. I am totally fine with that. Of the various things I am a snob about, this is not one of them, and I would much prefer a "Bee's Knees" bourbon cocktail to an actual martini (seriously though, try it). Besides that, they have a $5 happy hour special on all their listed drinks, which is excellent, and I found their mussel appetizer to be truly excellent. Very filling, with bread and tomatoes and a warm and rich broth that was exactly what I needed on a cold night here in Louisville. Had a nice leisurely evening with my friends, and we were never made to feel like we were taking up a table that could be put to better use. A nice atmosphere, good food, good drinks, and good service. I'll take it.
(4)
Sabrina P.
The lemon drop martini is the bomb! Cheese ravioli was the best I've ever tried. The atmosphere was perfect for a Friday night happy hour. Definitely will go back!
(4)
Tim H.
We started with the Goat Cheese Dip, it was great!. I ordered the Sausage Arrabiatta, substituting shrimp. It was pretty good. Sauce was full of flavor. shrimps were big. My wife had Seafood Risotto, it was very good. I might get it next time. For dessert, I had to try the Tiramitsu. Presentation put it to the top of my list, when combined with presentation. Our server, Sarah, was wonderful.
(5)
Roger H.
Great service and great food. Definitely recommend the spinach dip, rutledges bourbon cocktail and cheese cake!
(5)
Peggy S.
Not bad for a shopping center restaurant that seems like part of a chain. The pizza crust seems pre-fab and the pizza arrived lukewarm but it was tasty enough. The house salad seemed promising, but still had that bagged lettuce taste. I'd go back again if friends wanted to, but there are lots of other places I'd rather eat instead.
(3)
Joe D.
This restaurant is always consistent on service and food. While I am a bit of a critic on Italian food my meal was pretty good. The baked goat cheese is very tasty and quite addictive. Mussels in a white wine sauce was delish and worthy of a repeat order. The Caesar salad was cold and tasty and the lemony dressing made the dish. My table order Chicken Milanese which as good but the chicken was cooked a bit too much. The salmon was cooked perfectly and with the addition of wood-fired asparagus the meal was close to perfect. The three cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce was very much appreciated by my guest but looked too fancy for this Italian. Cheese cake for dessert was a great ending to a fine meal. Kudos to the staff!
(4)
Larry S.
Deliciousness, is one way to describe this place. High class food at decent prices. Excellent quality. Most of my family won't try anything else besides the Cheese Ravioli because it is too good to pass up. I've tried other things. It's all good!
(5)
Andrew H.
Very disappointing. My wife and I were looking forward to coming here for her birthday what a letdown. Waited an hour for a table no big deal but kept hearing the hostess tell people that customers weren't leaving and that was the hold up. Thought it was kind of rude to blame your guest. There was an incident in the parking lot where an old man fell over. One hostess went out there then came back in and pretty much announced to the whole lobby that the man is okay he just tripped and lost oxygen because he's on high blood pressure medicine and that she was a nurse. Odd but ok Our server was a dud. Some surfer looking dude who barely said hello. Everytime he came to give us something it was basically thrown at us lol. I'm looking at the menu and he put the drink right down on it and spills coke all over the menu. But still odd but ok. He comes to give us pepper for our oil and flips his elbows out and almost takes out our eyes. Odd but ok. Guy didn't have very good spacial awareness. Finally what matters. The food. What a let down. I ordered a chicken dish. They server came out and asked how everything was an I said. "Not very good I don't like this" his response ok cool. At the end of the meal he asked me if I wanted it boxed and I told him no it wasn't good. He just kind of starred at me like he couldn't believe I said that. Long story short. We spent $70 on a birthday dinner and it was aweful. I asked the server if they do anything for birthdays and he said no. O well. Never coming here again. Save ur $$ and go to drakes and get some beers
(1)
George O.
Great service. I ordered the saloon pasta and had them add some shrimp to my pasta. Tasted really good and the employees are very nice. Will revisit next time I'm in the area
(4)
Christian S.
One of the best Italian restaurant in Louisville! Me and my family have eaten at martinis about 5 times and I cannot stay away from the shrimp and lobster al forno! Got it each time and it is to die for, by far one of the best dishes in the place. Valentine's Day my birthday Mother's Day my wife's birthday it doesn't matter we in the building!
(5)
Heather H.
You must try this place for brunch. $10-13 a plate and the coffee is good. It looks like a great place to have a nice brunch party as well. The service is great.
(5)
Alisha V.
I will never forget my meal here. I've only eaten here once but it left an impression. I got the Mediterranean Penne and it might've been one of the best meals I've ever had! I cannot wait to go back. I also remember how nice our waiter was. Good atmosphere, too!
(5)
Katherine P.
Love this place !!! House salad with blackened chicken is on point . Nicole , the daytime bartender always takes great care of her customers !
(4)
Jerry Z.
UPDATED to reflect exciting news.... Happy Birthday/Happy New Year Martini Italian Bistro Louisville. Today (November 1st, 2011) begins their first day of local ownership, a process that has been in the works for over 2 years. They've quietly assembled the A-Team of chefs, staff and bartenders and now away from the corporate umbrealla and locally owned and locally managed they can all rev up their engines and strut their stuff. We look forward to many great meals and great times ahead!!! Congratulations
(5)
Melissa T.
Let me begin by stating my experience happened on Valentine's night, very very busy here. I ordered 2 pizzas for take-out. I think the food has potential however our pizzas were cold and about 5 minutes undercooked. We are staying at a nearby hotel therefor we didn't have the ability to throw it in the oven at home for a bit more, or it probably would have been good.
(2)
Charles S.
Was celebrating my wife's birthday or at least trying to. Hostess-stand - 2 stars * Seated us quickly, but after getting me a child seat, she left me wondering what to do with the extra chair. After several waiters and the like walked past me, I finally took it to the hostess stand and told them I was leaving it there. Waitress - 2 stars * Took to long to get to the table, at least a four to five minute wait. After getting drink order, vanished. Finally came back and acted like nothing was wrong, which I personally found troubling. She was nice so I am not giving her 1 star. Overall experience was less than stellar, but at least the Manager on duty responded with attention and care when he was engaged. I would go back because this experience was the exception, but if you feel your are not getting the attention you require, speak up quickly before it gets worse.
(2)
Lynn B.
We came at the last minute - no reservation, but what luck, it was great. Service was over the top, food great. A relaxing and enjoyable evening. Will definitely return. Great drink list, plenty of food items to choose from for large and small appetites. Classy atmosphere but didn't feel out of place in our casual clothes. We stayed very late, but the waitress made us feel welcome. In fact, she was one of the best things about the evening - friendly, helpful, though not hovering. Most memorable dish was a special for the evening; mac and cheese - probably the best I've ever had in a restaurant - crunchy top with a mixture of cheeses, perfect pasta and bacon - wow! It's making hungry for it just writing about it! Delicious salads for lighter fare too.
(5)
Jessica C.
Lemme be honest. I love goat cheese. It makes me happy. I love it as a garnish, a main ingredient, etc. I just plain and simple love it. Martini uses goat cheese in a lot of their dishes.... Ipso facto, I suppose I love Martinis restaurant. . . . They have an appetizer of baked goat cheese and marinara sauce which is served with toast points. I crave this item. I have gone there by myself and sat by myself just to eat this appetizer. Yum. And they also have several garganelli pasta dishes with a big ol' scoop of love on top. If you like goat cheese as much as I, you simply must visit this restaurant. The martinis are also good. I think their food tastes more upscale versus a streamlined Olive Garden style italian. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes Italian. May not be the best place for kids.... I have brought them before, and they color on the paper on the tables, etc. But it has more of a romantic date night feel than a "lets go out for family dinner" feel.
(4)
Megan A.
I'm definitely a fan of Martini's. They are always consistently good with their food preparation and good service. They will prepare any dish in any fashion you request, which is very nice. They have gluten free pasta options as well. It's a step up from Olive Garden, but still very affordable for the quality of food you get. You can't go wrong by choosing this place for a meal.
(4)
Ruth O.
Had dinner here for 1st time . Reservations @8, arrived early, seated by 8. Got drinks and then waited 30 minutes for the appetizers. Was told there was a big party. Sorry, but for a $125 night that should not be my problem. That rather dampened the evening. Server totally disappeared during this time. I asked for the meal to be at a relaxed pace but salads came out on top of appetizer and then we waited again. And waited. Meal was good, not great. Overall not good enough to go back for $125 for 2 including tip
(3)
Jeff M.
They have the best house salad... And I'm not a salad kinda guy. I'd love to find the recipe for their secret dressing.
(4)
Avonel R.
I'd say this place deserves 3.5 stars, but I just can't bring myself to give it 4. I've been here twice now and both times the service has been satisfactory. The food is decent- nothing to complain about but also nothing to rave about. They have a good amount of standard choices for an italian restaurant. Overall, I will probably return due to its proximity to my hotel, but its not somewhere I'd go out of my way to enjoy.
(3)
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Address :4021 Summit Plaza Dr
Louisville, KY, 40241
Takes Reservations : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Lauren K.
Martini's Italian Bistro isn't called "Martini's" for nothing! I walked in expecting that they would have a few good martinis, but oh no - I was pleasantly surprised to find that they have around 50 or so martinis that you can order from! My boyfriend and I went during happy hour which is Monday - Friday from 3-7 pm; during happy hour most of their martinis are only $5 which is the greatest thing ever, right? Don't let your wallet run away with you but do try at least a couple of them! I tried the Royal Flush (one their popular bourbon martinis), the Blood Orange martini and to top them off, I had the Ultimate Chocolate martini. They were all so good and the bourbon martinis are especially unique - in the spirit of Kentucky and it being the land of bourbon I recommend getting one of the 6 bourbon martinis. Part of what made our experience so enjoyable was our bartender, Colleen, who was extremely knowledgeable about all the drinks and she was so very willing to suggest drinks to my boyfriend and me. She was very attentive and talkative with my boyfriend and myself which was readily welcomed (since some bartenders can be stand-offish). Colleen recommended I try the blood orange martini and I'm so glad I did. In addition to the martinis we had the buschetta; the bartender prepared it for us right there at the bar which in my opinion, was pretty neat. We didn't have any entrees so I may not comment on that but overall the service was great and the martinis were fabulous. You definitely get your money's worth when ordering your beverages, so thumbs up for that! The inside of the restaurant is very cute too and I would say it is almost what you expect of a cute little Italian bistro. The atmosphere here makes Olive Garden feel like fast food. Ultimately, Martini's Italian Bistro is a great little place to eat or even to just get drinks after work. Afterwards, you can always bar hop (since there's other places to eat around there) or shop since it's in the shopping center! Whatever floats your boat!
(4)Taryn M.
If there are two things I love most in life, it's wine and a good pasta. With that being said, Martini's has both...and some of the best pasta dishes I have ever tried in my life. Among multiple visits, this place never disappoints. The bread is amazing! Try the house salad instead of the Caesar as it is very unique! One of my favorite dishes is the rigatoni, which is rich and creamy. The spicy sausage pasta is definitely a good choice too. And of course the lasagna...enough for two people to share or enough for a meal the next day! Of the two years I've been in Louisville, this place has quickly become my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. The atmosphere and decor is fun and service is usually very good. Thursday's during the summer they have live music right outside...so definitely a great place to visit once, or many times.
(5)Adrianna S.
I stopped here as a late night dinner with a girlfriend after a coctail party...we didn't need much, just a glass of wine and something small to eat...we ate at the bar, with a friendly and attentive bartender. She was there when we needed her, but didn't hover, my absolutely favorite type of service provider... My glass was very dirty when I got my first glass of wine, but the bartender promptly fixed that. We ordered the baked goat cheese, which was exactly what I had expected, except I would have liked bread instead of crispy pita things...not really sure what they were... We also ordered the large House Salad, which...was...fantastic!!! The dressing really did it, but the simplicity of it, with some bacon crumbles and gorgonzola cheese was just what we needed... There was this foul smell that kinda killed it, though...that end of the night bar needs to be cleaned smell...but, to be fair, it was the end of the night, and they were closing...so, there were a few reasons they did not get all 4 stars, but if I stay at the Hilton Garden Inn there, again, I am sure I will be back for that salad!!!
(4)Mr And Mrs G.
MR says... MRS says... lasagna is humongous! good to share else have it TOGO which is good for at least 2 more meals ~ what a deal! quality of food is excellent. restaurant ambiance with live music is elegant.
(4)Johnny T.
A solid 3.5 but the service tipped them to a 4. I hadn't been here in years. I remember liking all the dishes I had, but it was nothing to make me rush back. It was sort of like flipping channels on a Saturday afternoon, catching an episode of 'America's Test Kitchen' (you totally thought I was about to write Next Top Model, didn't you?) and watching it through. Enjoyable, but you wouldn't rush home to make sure you missed the episode. So, when I found out that some of my mom's friends were planning on throwing her a birthday party here, I went along not expecting much. I was wrong. Again, the food was good to pretty good. The complimentary bread is always a hit. The house dressing makes the salad pop and it's hard to go wrong with chicken, capers and artichoke hearts. No, what impressed me was the level of service. We had one waitress for 15 people in a private room and she was on top of her game the entire time. She remembered orders, filled drinks without asking, fielded questions about calories, took photos, got the food out hot and timely, kept us apprised of what was going on at all times, and went out of her way to make my mom feel special. She had automatic gratuity. She didn't have to do any of this. The fact that she did impressed me. Greatly. In addition to her, the hostess gave my mom a birthday card with a nice, personalized note inside (gotta love Southern touches). The chef came into our private room to chat us up. The house comped some of the most delicious chocolate mousse birthday cake I have ever had and my mom left the meal on cloud 9. You made my mom feel special on her big day. I am in your debt. Thank you, Martini Italian Bistro. Thank you.
(4)Cheryl S.
Great Martini's, go for the ultimate with Vodka and blue cheese olives. The bartender, Colleen is absolutely fabulous (AB FAB)! Good good. The only flat note is the piano needs some serious tuning.
(4)Lorna B.
Elegant place with live piano music. White table cloths. Great Italian restaurant with different choices of appetizers. Fabulous Martini menu ! And After visiting several times, service is consistently great ! Always enjoy an evening there.
(5)Erin S.
When I think of Martini's, the first word that comes to mind is consistency. I have yet to have a meal here I haven't liked. If you're in the mood for moderately priced Italian food made from scratch, Martini's is a must. I ate here for a late Sunday lunch with family and enjoyed the house salad and rigatoni bolognese. The service was attentive and professional and the atmosphere was quite relaxing. I'll be back the next time I'm in need of a major dose of carbs and cheese!
(4)Martin H.
Great service, decent food and upscale settings for a reasonable price. Try the pasta or the scallops!
(4)D C.
As always, the food and drinks were good! The service was marginal at best. Received what seemed like stale bread ( server told us it's usually softer and warner if you come for lunch.....really!). We didn't receive our antipasto salad until after our dinner came and we reminded our server. Server was self-described "overwhelmed" with the 4 tables she had....this was a Wed. night! Don't understand why restaurants set servers up to fail if they are not ready to handle tables on their own. We'll probably go back due to food quality and good martini happy hour!
(3)Jennifer F.
Food was amazing!!!! Very authentic!!! Service was very elegant and polite!! I will be back!!
(4)Lawrence J.
This is one of the better restaurants in that used in the Louisville I love it the stuff is great and also the managers always greet you he remembers your name. This is somewhere that I would go every week and also recommend friends to go there or take them with me.
(5)Cathy J.
I wasn't quit sure what to think of this place, me and my husband went here for the first time for our first date night without the kids. I searched yelp to see how many stars they got and they got a pretty good number and the photos looked great. Our server was ok but wasn't knowledgable about the menu. We would ask questions and he'd divert to something else plus we sat outside and our plates we're a little dirty. We ordered the shrimp scampi and lasagna...the shrimp scampi only had 3 pieces of shrimp but decent in taste, not the best I've had. The lasagna was huge and again just ok nothing to really talk about. The side bread they gave with the olive oil was good. I'd probably come back for happy hour.
(2)Judy H.
We ate there last night for the first time. Everything was excellent!! The house salad was a delicious start to my meal. I had the shrimp scampi which was delicious! Our servers name was Mackey. He was very friendly and knew lots about the menus. We will definitely be back!! Thank you for a great first experience!!
(5)Thao T.
All my 6 dinner mates and I said after our very fulfilling and delicious meals was, we can't belive this place got such low ratings. By ignoring the ratings we found a gem. The portions are large and the entrees are delicious. The appetizers: The mussels were fresh and one of the best I've had. The appetizer platter was large and great to share. The house salad was unique bc of the tasty sauce and the tomato bisque was thick and creamy. I enjoyed the fig porkchop, it was topped with a dark creamy sauce of figs and mushrooms. The salmon was spicy, which I liked. My friend's tofu dish came with spaghetti squash, a pleasant surprise. All my friends enjoyed their meals. I have no problems against chains, they got where they are because a majority of the people liked their food. This is the type of place I would take my parents and family for a nice dinner. I know the majority would just eat it up!
(4)Ngocuyen N.
I loved everything I tried. Despite generous size appetizers and decent portion entrees, all except one of us finished out food. It was that good. The upscale decor and polite servers made me forget that this was a chain restaurant. It was darn-there's-no-place-to-spit-out-my-gum fancy. The food was great, everything from what I ordered I what I sampled. Pork chop was well seasoned. Risotto was the perfect texture. Sea bass was tender, a perfect pairing with the risotto. The prices were a bit high, but for the quality of food and nice ambiance, it was worth it. Not your everyday dining for my budget but definitely a place I would consider for a more special occasion.
(4)Aaron F.
Great food, everything tastes fresh. Had the Minestrone soup, well flavoured. Also the spaghetti and hand-rolled meatballs in tomato sauce with whole wheat pasta. Meatballs were soft and tender and bursting with flavour. Great. Also Sausage Arabiatta which has penne pasta, spicy Italian sausage, olives, onions with spicy marinara. We had it without the olives (personal choice). The dish is a little spicy for my taste, but the person who ordered it loved it all. We cleaned our plates. Our server was a little relaxed "should I grab you another glass of wine?", but no big deal. He cleared a 4-top for two of us, and left the bread plates to our right and not the left. Ok too. Served our drinks to the left side of the plate instead of the right side. Also ok... maybe he was European? All no big deal. The food was good and arrived at the table quickly. And we ate it all. Still have not gotten to the deserts, but I hear they are great.
(4)Tom C.
I went here for happy hour and left very happy.They had martinis(go figure) and well drinks on special. I opted for a Bass,felt like beer with my food have to run tomorrow so no wine. I wanted to go light so went with the spinach al forno,fresh sauteed spinach with artichoke,sundried tomatoes baked in a Parmesan cream sauce and served with garlic Parmesan crostinis-very good. They also offer "taste teasers" for $2.99 per order at the bar after 4pm.I ordered the fried raviolis and risotto balls.The raviolis were nice and light but the marinara sauce was too light with the garlic and not enough spiciness.The risotto balls(two of course) suffered the same lack of machismo but were delicious none the same. I liked the fell of the place,even though I felt I was at the high school dance with four tables of women along the windows and groups of guys at the bar c'mon people mingle!Server was nice and on top of things although a little busy.Got to go back and try some more teasers,entrees, and see if I can't encourage some mingling.
(4)Caroline T.
I had lunch here with my husband and mother-in-law when we were in town over Thanksgiving. They both ordered the blackened tilapia salad, and I had rigatoni bolognese with a dirty vodka martini. The place is located in a suburban strip mall, so admittedly, I didn't have the highest expectations going in, but the food was halfway decent. My bolognese tasted like bolognese, and the martini was smooth. I'd put it a notch above Olive Garden.
(3)Alfonso E.
This restaurant was not my choice for lunch on a random Monday. Given its suburban shopping center location and suburban shopping center decor, I was certainly expecting suburban shopping center quality food. So I ordered a safe shopping center restaurant kind of dish: chicken caesar salad. Results: even more mediocre than I imagined. Same with the calamari appetizer, and the pizza and burger ordered by my lunch companions.
(2)Dr Eric L.
We had excellent pasta and very good steaks the place is under rated
(4)Jenny G.
I wanted to give the review 3 1/2 stars, but rounded up because I had a great night out with the girls. We arrived during happy hour and friends took advantage of the $5 martinis (there is an extensive martini list). All three were delicious. For food, we had the Bruschetta for an appetizer. Not your typical small pieces of French bread topped with tomatoes and cheese, but rather three large slices of bread topped with tomatoes, cheese, balsamic sauce. It was a tasty appetizer. I wasn't impressed with the house salad; small and the house dressing tasted like it was made with Splenda or some other artificial sweetener. For an entree, I recommend the Shrimp Garganelli- jumbo gulf shrimp with crushed red pepper, spinach, oven roasted tomatoes, goat cheese, and jumbo gulf shrimp in a white wine sauce. It was plenty to eat and very good. Dessert was a total let down. 4 of us ordered 4 desserts and there were all less than stellar. The waitress recommended the raspberry creme cake; it tasted stale and lacked flavor. The tiramisu also lacked flavor, although was prepared very nicely. The cheesecake had way too much of a lemon/lime flavor for my liking (being that it was supposed to be plain cheesecake). I ordered the Pisa pie; butter fudge ice cream with peanutbutter, Oreo crust, fudge, and oven roasted peanuts. It was so-so, nothing to write home about. I've had multiple menu items at Martini and all are good, but I prefer Volare for a good Italian meal.
(4)Stephanie C.
Not enough can be said about this place. The martinis were on point, the food was amazing, and the service was great! We had the Bruschetta for our appetizer. Initially I was not going to have any, but my date insisted after he tasted the explosion of flavor. I have in and I was not disappointed. The best Bruschetta that I have b had. For my entree I ordered the Chicken Carbonara... Again, I was not disappointed. Perfect parts of each; bacon, sauce, chicken, spinach. Unfortunately I couldn't eat it all because I had a piece of the bruschetta. I took my leftovers home and I always know that if food taste good cold... It was definitely amazing. Martini has a leg martini selection and of course I was ecstatic when I learned that they had my favorite; French Martini. I have not been able to find a suitable French Martini in the Louisville area, but again... Martini did not disappoint. As I stated before it was on point. The only complain that I have is the background music. The grand piano is somewhat obnoxious if you are in the front area of the restaurant. In the dining area it's not so bad... Until they start playing other instrumental music through the sound system. They were overpowering one another and sounded horrible. That was not a huge deal because it was only noticed for a moment and we were able to talk over it without yelling. For that I won't deduct a star from my rating. Other than the piano the atmosphere was perfect.
(5)Lauren H.
Beautiful interior, prompt service, and the food is always excellent. I'm definitely a fan of Martini's. Martini's is a step above the chain Italian restaurants (Olive Garden, Carrabas, etc) while still remaining in their affordable price point. The atmosphere is airy and elegant. The service is attentive and each course is served timely. The drink menu is extensive, with martinis of all sorts (vodka, bourbon, etc). They offer $5 martinis during happy hour. And most importantly, the food is fantastic. Really, everything I've had from Martini's has been great. Throughout many visits I've had: chicken alfredo, lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and chicken carbonara. Everything is delicious and served in a huge portion, with my favorite (so far) being the lasagna. When I visit, I have the hardest time deciding what to order because the entire menu sounds fabulous. There are at least five more entrees on my "to try" list before I can pick a favorite. Even the house salad is a step above the rest. Forget the measly lettuce with a few tomatoes or olives, Martini's house salad has gorgonzola cheese and bacon! There are other vegetables tossed in there too, but my taste buds didn't care. I will add that though I don't believe it's a chain, Martini's does have a commercialized feel. The food is "Americanized" Italian; the quick service leads me to think servers are trained to turn over tables; the beautiful decor seems a bit predictable. It seems to have all the elements of a chain Italian place, just done better. So, heads up: if you want an authentic, cozy, local place, you might want to save Martini's for another night. The food at Martini's is definitely worth a visit (or a few)!
(4)Nilsa A.
Happy hour Martini's $5, apps also reduced. The bartenders were very knowledgeable preparing the drinks. They were quick to offer suggested drinks and food choices. There was a piano bar and the lady was great. Nice atmosphere, good crowd. A must return.
(5)Scott F.
Goat cheese appetizer was very good. Salads were light and wonderful. We had lasagna, sicillian pizza, chicken carbonaro, and chicken parmesan. All was very good. Sat outside on patio which was nice but they needed some background music. Also they broke dishes 3 times near where we were sitting.
(4)Woody W.
The food is good, not much better than the typical Olive Garden experience. They take themselves a bit serious for a chain restaurant, but it will do in a bind.
(3)Mark P.
i appreciate your attempt at gluten free foods, but when we ordered the gluten free salmon entree on Dec 9 2011 it was served with breaded onions on top. Please train your staff about preparation of gluten free foods
(4)Mike H.
Martini's never ceases to un-amaze me. Sadly because of its proximity, many of us venture over to this late evening establishment after a day's long work. Every time, every dish, every appetizer, and every experience continues to diminish in quality, taste and appeal. I have tried almost everything from their shrimp & lobster pasta to the chicken masala. Nothing tastes like the traditional classical dishes and even in its "new-age spin" lacks any flavor to call it a standalone rendition. For christ sake, my chicken masala was tomato based that was neither masala nor chicken parm - and just utter crap. Avoid this place at all costs. Take your money - and just go one block north under the highway to Olive Garden. Even though OG is a Darden chain, it totally beats Martini's. (And yes, I can't believe I'm recommending OG over this...but yes this is how bad Martini's is...) ...but the drinks are good. You can't really mess up liquor now... or can you?
(1)Shal V.
My wife had been disappointed with the Italian food we've eaten in this city so I took a big gamble by making a reservation at Martini on a Saturday night for her birthday. When we arrived, Martini was packed to the rafters as it was prom night. Despite being the eternal optimist, I had this sense of foreboding that we would be consigned to oblivion amidst the glitzy prom dresses and the tumultuousness of a Saturday night. But our server surprised us with her warmth and attentiveness. Looking at the menu, we realized we were spoiled for choices as there was a huge selection of dishes to choose from. We started out with the Baked Goat Cheese appetizer, which was yummy. I ordered the Rigatoni Bolognese and my wife got Spaghetti & Meatballs (Caesar Salad w/ entrée), both of which were excellent. We finished the meal with a delightful Chocolate Espresso Cake. Overall, my wife enjoyed her birthday dinner and the two of us were raving about the wonderful dining experience.
(5)Tony R.
Love the staff because they greeted us with a smile! Chicken fettuccine blacken was great! I was there for a work function and it was a great experience for me.
(4)Romel A.
Service is excellent, cozy ambience and food is delicious! The bread is to die for, the house salad with vinaigrette dressing I ordered is just so fresh & crisp, and finally the chicken carbonara is so deliciously filling, I like it that they add some spinach which adds color & texture to it! A half liter carafe of freshly brewed iced tea finished it off!
(4)Leo P.
Leo P The meal and the service was quite enjoyable and the waitress was attentive, but the experience was over shadowed by an inconsiderate patron of the restaurant . Why ? My friend and I were having dinner on their patio on a delightful evening on July 24 2014, when another Customer decided to smoke several cigarettes outside on the patio and completely ruined the flavor of our food. Martini should ban smoking on the patio so that all can enjoy eating al fresco. In this day and age and with all that is known about the dangers of 2 nd hand smoke this behavior is unacceptable to the vast majority of non smokers
(3)Amanda A.
Martini's is the kind of place that in my younger days I might have turned my nose up at. However, visiting here with some lady friends recently, I was delighted to find a comprehensive menu containing drinks that are not actually martinis, but rather are just cocktails served in martini glasses. I am totally fine with that. Of the various things I am a snob about, this is not one of them, and I would much prefer a "Bee's Knees" bourbon cocktail to an actual martini (seriously though, try it). Besides that, they have a $5 happy hour special on all their listed drinks, which is excellent, and I found their mussel appetizer to be truly excellent. Very filling, with bread and tomatoes and a warm and rich broth that was exactly what I needed on a cold night here in Louisville. Had a nice leisurely evening with my friends, and we were never made to feel like we were taking up a table that could be put to better use. A nice atmosphere, good food, good drinks, and good service. I'll take it.
(4)Sabrina P.
The lemon drop martini is the bomb! Cheese ravioli was the best I've ever tried. The atmosphere was perfect for a Friday night happy hour. Definitely will go back!
(4)Tim H.
We started with the Goat Cheese Dip, it was great!. I ordered the Sausage Arrabiatta, substituting shrimp. It was pretty good. Sauce was full of flavor. shrimps were big. My wife had Seafood Risotto, it was very good. I might get it next time. For dessert, I had to try the Tiramitsu. Presentation put it to the top of my list, when combined with presentation. Our server, Sarah, was wonderful.
(5)Roger H.
Great service and great food. Definitely recommend the spinach dip, rutledges bourbon cocktail and cheese cake!
(5)Peggy S.
Not bad for a shopping center restaurant that seems like part of a chain. The pizza crust seems pre-fab and the pizza arrived lukewarm but it was tasty enough. The house salad seemed promising, but still had that bagged lettuce taste. I'd go back again if friends wanted to, but there are lots of other places I'd rather eat instead.
(3)Joe D.
This restaurant is always consistent on service and food. While I am a bit of a critic on Italian food my meal was pretty good. The baked goat cheese is very tasty and quite addictive. Mussels in a white wine sauce was delish and worthy of a repeat order. The Caesar salad was cold and tasty and the lemony dressing made the dish. My table order Chicken Milanese which as good but the chicken was cooked a bit too much. The salmon was cooked perfectly and with the addition of wood-fired asparagus the meal was close to perfect. The three cheese ravioli in Alfredo sauce was very much appreciated by my guest but looked too fancy for this Italian. Cheese cake for dessert was a great ending to a fine meal. Kudos to the staff!
(4)Larry S.
Deliciousness, is one way to describe this place. High class food at decent prices. Excellent quality. Most of my family won't try anything else besides the Cheese Ravioli because it is too good to pass up. I've tried other things. It's all good!
(5)Andrew H.
Very disappointing. My wife and I were looking forward to coming here for her birthday what a letdown. Waited an hour for a table no big deal but kept hearing the hostess tell people that customers weren't leaving and that was the hold up. Thought it was kind of rude to blame your guest. There was an incident in the parking lot where an old man fell over. One hostess went out there then came back in and pretty much announced to the whole lobby that the man is okay he just tripped and lost oxygen because he's on high blood pressure medicine and that she was a nurse. Odd but ok Our server was a dud. Some surfer looking dude who barely said hello. Everytime he came to give us something it was basically thrown at us lol. I'm looking at the menu and he put the drink right down on it and spills coke all over the menu. But still odd but ok. He comes to give us pepper for our oil and flips his elbows out and almost takes out our eyes. Odd but ok. Guy didn't have very good spacial awareness. Finally what matters. The food. What a let down. I ordered a chicken dish. They server came out and asked how everything was an I said. "Not very good I don't like this" his response ok cool. At the end of the meal he asked me if I wanted it boxed and I told him no it wasn't good. He just kind of starred at me like he couldn't believe I said that. Long story short. We spent $70 on a birthday dinner and it was aweful. I asked the server if they do anything for birthdays and he said no. O well. Never coming here again. Save ur $$ and go to drakes and get some beers
(1)George O.
Great service. I ordered the saloon pasta and had them add some shrimp to my pasta. Tasted really good and the employees are very nice. Will revisit next time I'm in the area
(4)Christian S.
One of the best Italian restaurant in Louisville! Me and my family have eaten at martinis about 5 times and I cannot stay away from the shrimp and lobster al forno! Got it each time and it is to die for, by far one of the best dishes in the place. Valentine's Day my birthday Mother's Day my wife's birthday it doesn't matter we in the building!
(5)Heather H.
You must try this place for brunch. $10-13 a plate and the coffee is good. It looks like a great place to have a nice brunch party as well. The service is great.
(5)Alisha V.
I will never forget my meal here. I've only eaten here once but it left an impression. I got the Mediterranean Penne and it might've been one of the best meals I've ever had! I cannot wait to go back. I also remember how nice our waiter was. Good atmosphere, too!
(5)Katherine P.
Love this place !!! House salad with blackened chicken is on point . Nicole , the daytime bartender always takes great care of her customers !
(4)Jerry Z.
UPDATED to reflect exciting news.... Happy Birthday/Happy New Year Martini Italian Bistro Louisville. Today (November 1st, 2011) begins their first day of local ownership, a process that has been in the works for over 2 years. They've quietly assembled the A-Team of chefs, staff and bartenders and now away from the corporate umbrealla and locally owned and locally managed they can all rev up their engines and strut their stuff. We look forward to many great meals and great times ahead!!! Congratulations
(5)Melissa T.
Let me begin by stating my experience happened on Valentine's night, very very busy here. I ordered 2 pizzas for take-out. I think the food has potential however our pizzas were cold and about 5 minutes undercooked. We are staying at a nearby hotel therefor we didn't have the ability to throw it in the oven at home for a bit more, or it probably would have been good.
(2)Charles S.
Was celebrating my wife's birthday or at least trying to. Hostess-stand - 2 stars * Seated us quickly, but after getting me a child seat, she left me wondering what to do with the extra chair. After several waiters and the like walked past me, I finally took it to the hostess stand and told them I was leaving it there. Waitress - 2 stars * Took to long to get to the table, at least a four to five minute wait. After getting drink order, vanished. Finally came back and acted like nothing was wrong, which I personally found troubling. She was nice so I am not giving her 1 star. Overall experience was less than stellar, but at least the Manager on duty responded with attention and care when he was engaged. I would go back because this experience was the exception, but if you feel your are not getting the attention you require, speak up quickly before it gets worse.
(2)Lynn B.
We came at the last minute - no reservation, but what luck, it was great. Service was over the top, food great. A relaxing and enjoyable evening. Will definitely return. Great drink list, plenty of food items to choose from for large and small appetites. Classy atmosphere but didn't feel out of place in our casual clothes. We stayed very late, but the waitress made us feel welcome. In fact, she was one of the best things about the evening - friendly, helpful, though not hovering. Most memorable dish was a special for the evening; mac and cheese - probably the best I've ever had in a restaurant - crunchy top with a mixture of cheeses, perfect pasta and bacon - wow! It's making hungry for it just writing about it! Delicious salads for lighter fare too.
(5)Jessica C.
Lemme be honest. I love goat cheese. It makes me happy. I love it as a garnish, a main ingredient, etc. I just plain and simple love it. Martini uses goat cheese in a lot of their dishes.... Ipso facto, I suppose I love Martinis restaurant. . . . They have an appetizer of baked goat cheese and marinara sauce which is served with toast points. I crave this item. I have gone there by myself and sat by myself just to eat this appetizer. Yum. And they also have several garganelli pasta dishes with a big ol' scoop of love on top. If you like goat cheese as much as I, you simply must visit this restaurant. The martinis are also good. I think their food tastes more upscale versus a streamlined Olive Garden style italian. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes Italian. May not be the best place for kids.... I have brought them before, and they color on the paper on the tables, etc. But it has more of a romantic date night feel than a "lets go out for family dinner" feel.
(4)Megan A.
I'm definitely a fan of Martini's. They are always consistently good with their food preparation and good service. They will prepare any dish in any fashion you request, which is very nice. They have gluten free pasta options as well. It's a step up from Olive Garden, but still very affordable for the quality of food you get. You can't go wrong by choosing this place for a meal.
(4)Ruth O.
Had dinner here for 1st time . Reservations @8, arrived early, seated by 8. Got drinks and then waited 30 minutes for the appetizers. Was told there was a big party. Sorry, but for a $125 night that should not be my problem. That rather dampened the evening. Server totally disappeared during this time. I asked for the meal to be at a relaxed pace but salads came out on top of appetizer and then we waited again. And waited. Meal was good, not great. Overall not good enough to go back for $125 for 2 including tip
(3)Jeff M.
They have the best house salad... And I'm not a salad kinda guy. I'd love to find the recipe for their secret dressing.
(4)Avonel R.
I'd say this place deserves 3.5 stars, but I just can't bring myself to give it 4. I've been here twice now and both times the service has been satisfactory. The food is decent- nothing to complain about but also nothing to rave about. They have a good amount of standard choices for an italian restaurant. Overall, I will probably return due to its proximity to my hotel, but its not somewhere I'd go out of my way to enjoy.
(3)