My boyfriend and I made a reservation here while staying in Charlestown, Indiana. It's a cute little restaurant and easy to get to. We had the rice balls for our appetizer and they were sooo good! Then we both got baked ziti--I subbed the spicy Italian sausage with chicken, best decision ever. The grilled chicken alone made the meal that much better because it was cooked to perfection. Our food was sizzling hot, fresh and so good. We also shared the tiramisu for dessert. Our server was extremely polite & the chef stopped by to talk to us several times. 100% recommend for Italian if you're in the area.

We placed a reservation a week in advance, and that was they right think to do. We arrived on a Saturday evening at 7:30 PM, and were greeted very warmly. With our reservation, we were seated immediately. The entire staff made you feel welcomed and what a great relaxing place to be for dinner. My wife and I started off by ordering a bottle of wine, Maso Canali, followed by an appetizer of Calamari. Our entrees included Cheese Ravioli, 2 each Melillo Salads and Linguine Clams. Everything tasted great. At then end, we stayed for a bit drinking coffee. Our entire meal, without gratuity came to $93.28. We both will definitely go back again.

This is where you feel a true Italian atmosphere and the true Italian owner's interest in his patrons. Menu is very good and not extensive, wine list is plentiful and well priced and the service is over the top.
Highly recommend this as a great experience and one you will want to repeat.

Wow a little place with big flavors. When you walk in you're greeted with a friendly hello and a marvelous aroma. Everything looked so good as we were escorted to our table, I knew it would be hard to decide. We ordered drinks that were generously poured. We had the Caesar salad which was fresh, crisp and delicious. Dressed perfectly. Then my wife had a classic spaghetti and meatballs. The meat balls where huge and seasoned like your grandmother made them in a wonderful marinara sauce. I had the angel hair pasta with spicy shrimp in olive oil and garlic. I fell in love with it.
The owner came out to the dining room from the kitchen several times during our stay to check on his customers and make sure everyone was satisfied. He stopped to talk to us twice and seemed interested in our comments which were all positive.
Unfortunately it's a 9 hour drive for us to go there for diner or I'd be there every week.

Family of four dinned tonight and had a great time and dinner was even better. From the salmon, to the ravioli, to baked ziti, angel hair pasta and meat balls every thing was very good. The owner will come out and check on everything you really can't ask for any better. Service was just as good as the meal, if you have not tried it give it a try you won't be disappointed.

Our third visit didn't disappoint!! We love this little gem in St Matthews. This quaint little restaurant is definitely the best Italian restaurant in the region! We love to sit at the bar, but have also been seated at a table for service. The Aglio o Olio is delicious and the baby kale was perfect! My husband had the Chicken Parm and the Melillo salad! Had to keep him from licking his plate 😉 the owner always stops by the table to say hello. We love restaurants for the experience and this one delivers every time!!

Looked for a local place to eat dinner while visiting Louisville & read reviews for Silvio's...DELICIOUS!!!! They were packed/busy, but the staff was attentive & our service was prompt/great! The chef even came out & spoke with us! The rice balls, meatballs, baked ziti, & marinara sauce were incredible! Great serving sizes, reasonable prices...well worth a visit!

I had a great dinner there recently, after reading some good reviews on the internet. It was one of the best Italian dinners I've had in a while. I ordered the veal Parmesan after asking the server if it was a good choice. She assured me it was, as she said they "knew how to prepare veal parm." The owner came over to my table shortly thereafter and chatted with me, and I told him it's difficult to find good veal parm, as it's often tough, has too much breading or in some other way is sub-par. He assured me I would like his, as he personally "pounded the hell out of it" every day. It arrived (after a very good house salad), and was, as he promised, outstanding.

Overall, it was a great experience. The food was excellent, the prices were very reasonable and the fact that the owner came over to make sure I was happy was the icing on the cake.

My husband and I went to Silvio's for the first time tonight. Wow! Good food... good wine ... good hugs... 🍴🍷🤗

My family and I went early one evening to dine and were seated promptly. It's not a huge building, and it was filling up by the time we were finishing, so may be best to reserve a table if you want to avoid a wait.
There was a modest, but lovely, selection of dinner items, plus the nightly special available. We had the special: pasta primavera, eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan. After we placed our orders, the owner (I assumed he's the owner) came out and made the rounds to all the tables. He was delightful. He asked us about what we ordered and gave us details about the food and probably hung out for about 5 minutes. He did this at every table and for those who hadn't ordered, he was giving suggestions.
We had free bread before the meals and it was warm and chewy. Both the parmesan dishes were fantastic. I found the primavera to be too oily for my taste, but the pasta was well cooked and it was loaded with fresh vegetables.
We were too full to finish our meals or get dessert, so ordering a dinner to share to leave room might be a good idea.

We went here with friends while in town for the Kentucky Derby. The atmosphere was fun & lively, the food was fabulous, and the waitstaff were friendly and attentive. The best part, though, is the owner/chef, Silvio, who makes it a point to visit every table. Everything we tried was excellent!

Okay. After my first visit to Silvio's I can definitively say it is the BEST Italian restaurant in Louisville and would be tops of many other markets in the country or world. I have travelled much and was raised in New England. Italian is perhaps my favorite food of all and Silvio's delivers the esthetics and flavors required in a Top Shelf restaurant. The owner/chef is an extremely personable gentleman who had my wife, daughter and my full attention when he visited our table. We felt like we were greatly welcomed and trusted his suggestions completely which ALL turned out to be perfect. Our waiter and other servers were very attentive, bringing us bread, water and whatever else we needed without prompting. The restaurant is tastefully decorated including white table cloths with famous classic crooners are heard lightly in the background. The menu highlights the classic fare found at all italian restaurants, plus some I haven't seen before. I went with the 2 specials of the night; ravioli with Italian sausage and the kale and beet salad. The presentations were food magazine worthy and the flavors bursted on my taste buds. My wife ordered Silvio's chicken with potatoes and broccoli which she loved and I agreed after a taste. She liked my dish also which I shared. Our daughter ordered her favorite dish (fettuccini Alfredo with shrimp) and found it to be the BEST she ever had. She can't wait to come back. The food is superb and Silvio is a pleasure to visit with. He makes you feel like you have been best friends forever. Their bread is to die for and their desserts are sublime. We had lemon and peanut butter Cannoli's and the sweet italian cream cake. Silvio's isn't just the #1 Italian restaurant in Louisville. It is running with the Top Guns of ANY venue. It is a must try for anyone who seeks finer dining. The prices are fair for the quality served and the service rivals the best I received anywhere. Silvio's provides an Experience that is lacking at most restaurants. We look forward to our next visit and I am completely confident in taking family and friends there for an exquisite dinner. Silvio's is a true 5 star restaurant in every way.

This place is a little difficult to find, but when you do, fantastic. I had the spaghetti with meatballs, WOW! The chef makes rounds in the dining room, nice touch and a great way to insure quality service and food feedback.

Terrific, gourmet Italian restaurant. Reasonably priced, excellent service and truly exceptional cuisine. The baked Zita with Italian sausage was particularly good. Highly recommended.

We found this place by accident. It was amazing! Owner comes out and personally greets you and asks how your meal is going. Makes you feel like a guest in his home. Food was very yummy! Daughter had chicken parm and it was outstanding.

Oh my goodness, this place was perfect! The service was exceptional. The owner/chef visited our table twice. The lasagna was amazing. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Can't wait to visit again.

The best lasagna I have ever eaten! Our group ate hear to celebrate a birthday and no one was disappointed. From appetizer to dessert the food was amazing and high quality. Staff is very efficient and the chef/owner gives everyone his personal attention. Be sure to make a reservation as the restaurant is small and busy. Favorites of the night: rice balls, antipasto plate, lasagna, chicken/veal parmesan.

I love going to the bar and absorbing the friendly atmosphere. The rice balls are a particular favorite and the antipasto is a mal in itself.

By sharing your experienWe visited about 7:45 on a Saturday night without a reservation. Thank goodness there were 2 seats at the bar. The hostess asked if this location was ok with us. We agreed and were seated. After a very short minute or so, the bar tender brought us water and menus. While we were looking at the menu and trying to decide upon our respective meals, he brought us the most delectable, hot bread, which we promptly butter with the accompanying whipped butter. Oh my goodness! The bread was so delicious. It was the perfect combination of crunchy crust and soft, holey, but dense interior.

Our entrées were Zito Ala Vodka with added spicy Italian sausage. My Beau ordered chicken Parmesan. The Zito is tossed with creamy tomato, vodka sauce. while on the menu, it is offered with seared shrimp or grilled chicken, I ordered mine with spicy Italian sausage. My dish was good, but it did not match the tastings of my Beau's chicken parm. I wished I had ordered it instead. sigh!

Almost immediately after we received our meals, the owner came to our seat to ask if it was our first visit and how we found out about the restaurant. Then, he came over later to ask if we liked our meals, tell us a little about how they were prepared and say how happy he was that we chose his restaurant. It was really a nice touch to have the owner come talk to us, not once, but TWICE.

After we had eaten as much as we could stand, Gerald, our bartender boxed our take-out containers and prepared everything wonderfully. Even though he was extremely busy all night, he treated us as if he had much time to serve us. Unfortunately, we did not have room for dessert. So, we will have to try it during another visit.
ces, you're helping travelers make better choices and plan their dream trips. Thank you!

Silvio's is a really excellent restaurant, we were with a large group and everyone had a great meal and its really authentic Italian cuisine and family run. I would always much rather eat at an independant restaurant and not a large chain as the staff were attentative and welcoming and the owner himself came and had a chat with us. If we return to Louisville we would definitely eat there again.

Have visited Silvio's on two occasions and have been very happy both times! All sauces are prepared in house. Attentive staff. Owner made sure to visit our table more than once to chat and make sure everything was good. Everyone in our group very pleased with their choices. Best Italian Cream Cake I've ever had. Worth stopping by just for dessert. A small cozy place.

Lovely intimate Italian restaurant. Everything house made and very solicitous and accommodating staff. Food was excellently prepared and served and well priced. Will visit again when in Louisville.

Great atmosphere. The owner's are delightful! Lots of fun chatting and definitely really good food. Reminded my Italian husband of his hometown (Brooklyn) sauce. Rice balls worth the calories. Yes, we will be back!

Went with 8 other people-everyone loved the food and we stayed so long we closed the place. The food is very good and while the menu is small there are many ways to mix and match pastas with sauces and meats--so slection opportunites are quite large. We will go back often--finally found a go-to place for authentic italian food.

First time visit to Silvio's for lunch has me eager to try it again and sample more items from their Lunch and Dinner menu. Straight forward: I was impressed with both the food and service. Went there for lunch and sampled one of their appetizers (I recall flatbread) and the Chicken Fettucine Alfredo (excellent sauce). For dessert, a tasty tiramisu and freshly brewed espresso. Everything was delicious and left me craving for more, will have to come again as I was sufficiently satisfied with the portions that day. Service was excellent and very friendly and welcoming. Nice family restaurant atmosphere with great Italian flavors.

One of my friends had heard about Silvio's and decided to make dinner reservations for us there last Friday night. There were only 3 reviews reviews on here so I was a little skeptical but dinner at Silvio's was one of the best meals I have had in years.
Don't let the location or lack of parking throw you off because inside the little strip mall area there is a wonderful Italian experience just waiting for you. The restaurant is very very small and quaint. I think there are only around 15 tables so make a reservation! When we were there is was packed but it was not noisy and you could have a conversation at your table without yelling at each other. They have a small bar set up in the corner that you can also sit at.
They have a wonderful selection of wines and a extensive drink menu. My only suggestion to the is to bring out a wine bottle chiller is a customer purchases the whole bottle. Maybe I should have asked for one.
For an appetizer we ordered the Calamari. It was tender and very very good. I could have just eaten it for dinner.
Our dinners started out with salad. You have your choice of Meillo or Caesar. We had a mix at our table and everyone said they were very good. The dressing on the Meillo was excellent.
Entrees- I had the Aglio Olio with Shrimp ( An olive oil & garlic sauce tossed with angel hair pasta) If you love garlic like I do this is must. It was a little spicy because it has red pepper flakes in it but you can ask them to hold them or to go light with it. I can't wait to eat this again. My girlfriend also had this and loved it.
My husband ordered Pasta with Meatball & Italian Sausage. He said it was very good. I honestly can't remember what my friends husband had because I was so into my own food..lol..or maybe it was the wine.
We ended the night with their homemade Lemoncello Cake. OH MY GOODNESS it was like eating lemon flavored air. I could eat it everyday. I have never had a cake so light and fluffy. As a foodie this was just to die for.
The staff is family and I loved that. The owners The Melillo Family are such warm and welcoming people. We had no idea that the chef, hostess and our waitress was family. They ended up talking to us through out the night and it made me want to come back and eat again and again. It's like one big happy Italian family. Just go and enjoy your evening. I might see you there.

After a great day visiting Louisville we had the opportunity to eat at this amazing restaurant. Silvio's is exactly what you would expect a fine Italian restaurant to be. The owner and head chef (Bill Melllilo) made it a point to visit each table and talk to each and every customer. The food was excellent and the service was great.

I've been called a food snob and this place surpasses my rigid standards. If you are craving Italian food and are in Louisville, Silvio's is a must! Business brings me to town one month out of the year and this place is a weekly (sometimes more) stop.The caesar salad has, hands-down, the best tasting dressing I've ever had. I usually get their cheese lasagna with a spicy italian sausage. You wont be disappointed. And a bonus is their staff. I know the saying "they make you feel like family" is cliché, but that is what they do. Very friendly folks.

This place is fantastic! The service was amazing! The food was fantastic! Best lasagna ever! We tried the rice balls for an appetizer and they were the best i have had. We had a big group! Everyone loved it! And the owner came out to greet us and help pick food! Outstanding restaurant!!

My wife and I eat out, a lot. This is, undoubtedly some of the best Italian food we have eaten in Louisville. Not only that it is presented in a friendly, casual manner by servers who are excellent at what they do. On top of this Silvio took the time to come out and speak to us like we were old customers and had been coming there for years. This is the way it used to be many years ago when we were a young couple, a way we see far too seldom any more, a way it really should be. The bolognese will become a regular item in our diet and this restaurant will become a regular stop for us. If you give it a chance it will probably become the same for you...

Stopped in here after the Breeder's Cup. Lucky we found this place. When we walked in we knew immediately we found great place. Mostly locals here and everyone knew each other.
Food and service was excellent.
The owner stopped by the table and chatted for awhile.
We definitely will be back when in town again.
Put this on you list to have dinner here. A must.

The food was excellent. The service was on point. Silvio came and talked to us. Can't say enough good things about this place. What a gem.

Second time we have been to Silvio’s. Everyone was nice as can be. We tried different items this time and thought it was incredible again. My wife said it was the best Eggplant Parmigian that she has ever eaten. Laid back atmosphere. Congrats on their 3rd anniversary. Don’t forget to make a reservation.

We went on a double date. The food was really delicious. The service was outstanding. Chef/owner was friendly and came and greeted us, asking us about the food and suggesting options. Tiny restaurant but great atmosphere. Make a reservation and note they don’t serve lunch.

Family of four visited for moms birthday and we had a great time. The owner comes out to say hello to the whole family and is super friendly. You have to try the rice balls they are a wonderful appetizer that everyone enjoyed. The chicken and veal Parmesan were perfect as well the the fettuccine and ziti with vodka sauce was a nice surprise. We have been here a couple of times but tonight seemed the best yet,everything was fresh, the service was perfect and the very reasonably priced.

Bill Silvio owns and operates this restaurant. His goal is to bring homemade Italian food to the table. The recipes are from his family. This is a small restaurant with limited parking but it is worth your time and money. The waitresses are really happy working at this restaurant and help each other out. They are always smiling and helpful. There are always specials which you should consider as they are very good. They have a brisk carry out business. We took a friend for a birthday dinner. We tried a shrimp special , lasagna , a meat lasagna and several other dishes. ALL were amazing! We also tried three different appetizers and everything was eaten. Always save room for desserts...cheesecake, Italian cream cake.... I loved the Italian cream cake. Always call in your reservation to be sure you have a seat. This is such an amazing family business.

On a recent week-long visit to Louisville, we dined at "Silvio's" one evening, as it was close by to the Inn where we were staying. We totally enjoyed our dinner here. The greeting we received upon our arrival, was warm and friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed the entrees we ordered, and the cannolis for dessert were heavenly!! The owner came by our table a couple of times during our dinner to chat with us, and we really enjoyed conversing with him. Do yourself a favor, and have dinner here if you are in the area. Might be a good idea to make a reservation, as it appears to be a fairly popular place to dine.

Not knowing anything about food In Louisville and, after looking at several review sites, we settled on Italian at Silvio’s. For a shot in the dark we hit the bullseye. A little place in a small strip mall but big on results. Make reservations.

Our starter was a perfectly mixed Manhatten and a glass of wine. Good mixed cocktails are a dying art. We followed with a antipasto plate that, for the money, was absolutely incredible. Several kinds of meat, olives, chees, a small sausage made this a a keeper. It was amply supplied and the perfect plate. We followed with chicken parmigiana and baked ziti. Not gourmet by any stretch but just plain good stuff. We darn near ate the enamel off the plates.

Price was in the mid range. I have had less for a whole lot more. I thought it was perfectly priced.

Service was stellar. Fully attentive and more than pleasant. And fun! This is a family run operation and the owner made several visits to our table. We wished we could have spend the evening with him chatting it up. Much fun. He clearly loves his food and his restaurant and it all shows. Give this a try. You won’t regret.

We are not from the area and Silvo's was recommended by the car dealer where we bought our car. It was one of the best Italian dinners that weve had in a very long time. The broccoli and risotto were by far the best that I've ever had. It sounds a bit strange to say the broccoli was good, but believe me, it was! I even asked the chef how he prepared it. My husband had the veal parm and took half home. Again, delicious. We were too full for dessert boo

Enjoyed a delicious dinner the other night. Old Italian family recipes make for a great restaurant!! Four of us had something different and we shared a calamari appetizer. Each one was spot on and very tasty! Nice romantic atmosphere, owners are very personable and a delight to visit with. You can tell they take pride in what they do. Price is a little on the higher side but not really when you think of great quality and fresh food. We will all return.

This restaurant was able to seat the 4 of us on very short notice. My 2 friends were unable to get to the east coast for their flight to Madrid, Spain because of the inclement weather in Philly so they had to stay over. We called the restaurant and they most graciously agreed to let us have a 5:00pm seating but explained that the table also had a reservation for 6:45pm. Not a problem. Service was very good, Wine selection was reasonable, Entree's were also tasty. I had the Shrimp Polenta special and devoured it to the last morsel, other entrees were Baked Zita, Lasagna, and Veal. All of us enjoyed the house salad and dressing. No room left for dessert.

My wife wanted to celebrate our 35th anniversary with Italian food so we went to where the BEST is. We arrived at 5 and were seated at our favorite table and had a great meal of veal parmesan. The bread is SO good too. We don't always eat dessert when we go out, but Silvio's has incredible dessert. I can't bring myself to try another Italian restaurant since dining at Silvio's. I'd hate to be disappointed with lesser quality. The entire staff is always impeccable. Last night we had Cat serving our table and she visited our table just the right amount of times, filling water glass without request and had great suggestions when we asked. She was perfect. One of my favorite things about Louisville is Silvio's.

We love the atmosphere (small and intimate) but not stuffy. Bill Mellilo(Silvio) is a great host--he will stop by several times during your visit to check on you and pass the time.
We really love the way the food is prepared and Silvio will prepare the dish the way you want so you can be creative when ordering. I asked him for capellini aglio e oilo with anchovy and capers--he delivered a delicious rendition that reminded me of how it tasted growing up in the Italian section of Brooklyn. He explained that he gets some of his ingredients from New York and New Jersey and you can tell by the taste.
Be sure to make a reservation--it is always packed.

This is a great Italian restaurant. The atmosphere was fantastic. We had to sit at the bar but we still enjoyed ourselves. I had chicken parm and my friend had the salmon. The food was delicious. I would definitely go back for dinner again.

On the advice of some good friends, we had an early dinner at Silvio’s. We were able to grab a table that wasn’t reserved until 7:15. We had heard about the rice ball, so we shared one while studying the menu. With a generous helping of their awesome marinara sauce, we split this yummy appetizer. My wife had the house red Wine, while I ordered the Kris Pinot Noir. After tasting both, she commandeered my Pinot.

We split the Melillo salad, which was nice and fresh. She ordered the baked ziti and I the Eggplant Parmigiana. Upon tasting each other’s dish, we decided we love what we each ordered the best.

The owner-chef strolled among the tables to make sure everyone was having a grand time. We were.
While it was our first time, we are already planning to return with friends and relatives.

What a great experience we had. This is truly one of the hidden gems in our city. The owner had just returned from Italy and was a great host. Meeting and greeting each table and thanking every guest for coming. The food was amazing, I could go on for hours about this place. Do yourself a favor and GO TO SILVIO's

After reading reviews decided to give it a try and very glad we did. Both my wife and me really enjoyed our meal. She had the eggplant and I had the ziti. Both dishes were exceptional as were the salads. Very fairly priced food and wine with great service. The owner is also a great guy and visits most tables to make sure everyone is enjoying their meal.

First time here and we were treated like royalty. The food was excellent. We were celebrating two birthdays and the owner made sure we got free desserts. We will definitely go back.

My boyfriend and I go out frequently trying different restaurants and Saturday night, Silvio’s topped our list. I had made reservations for 8:00 but we arrived early and were welcomed to sit at the bar for a drink until our table was ready. I liked their Prosecco, he had a Bloody Mary as they were completely out of every kind of rum for rum and coke (however, they apparently don’t ever carry a spiced rum anyway). We also ordered our appetizer at the bar figuring why wait. The calamari was FANTASTIC. Loved every bit of it. A high top table became available before our reservation was ready and we were asked if we would like to sit there instead. It doesn’t have the tablecloth or low light lamp for ambience, but we aren’t picky and were ready to order so we could eat. Sliced bread and butter were delicious. Server was nice, maybe a little distracted by another table that kept flagging him down several times, but they seemed to want to be overly catered to. He was a good waiter, thorough, and pleasant. We both ordered the Seafood with pasta dish, each choosing our preference of pasta. It seemed to take unnecessarily long to receive but we weren’t in a hurry and when it arrived, EXCELLENT dish. Presentation was great, everything about it was spot on. Dessert tray was beautiful, salted caramel cheesecake, Yum! Wish I would’ve had room to try some others! Overall, quaint, cozy and comfortable, more personal atmosphere for a restaurant and delicious food. Both of us left very satisfied and glad we didn’t just hit up another regular chain restaurant. We will definitely be returning for another date night at Silvio’s.

As soon as my husband told me to pick somewhere for a dinner date, I looked up Silvio's. I'd driven past it many times but hadn't ever stopped in. The online menu looked to be reasonably priced and when I called they were able to hold a table for us without a prior reservation. We arrived and were warmly greeted & promptly seated. The waiter was friendly and pointed out a few specialties and we ordered. While waiting they brought out delicious warm bread and the best butter we've had since in Ireland. Turns out it's their own homemade butter, yum! We shared the rice ball appetizer (baseball sized and delish)! I ordered Scottish salmon, sautéed kale, and creamy garlic Parmesan risotto and it was excellent but I'm not accustomed to medium salmon. The chef/owner walked around and chatted with us and noticed I was eating the outside of the salmon and offered to make it fully done. My husband ordered chicken Parmesan over ziti and enjoyed it too. The dark lighting, friendly close knit atmosphere, friendly staff, excellent food, and fair price will have us returning for sure. The dessert tray of cheesecake slices, tiramisu, Italian Cream cake etc looked divine but we were too full to sample them this visit. Cocktail prices were overpriced for comparable establishments, not sure on other alcohol as we didn't drink.

Bill Melillo has hit a home run with Silvio's. Everything from Menu design to pricing to service to food quality was outstanding. The only aspect of Silvio's on which I cannot fairly comment is the decor/ambience, as my group of 6 was seated outside ... which was definitely not impressive in a good way. However, everything else certainly met or exceeded our expectations. Prices are at the high end of medium but still a decent value. We are looking forward to a return visit in the near future and would definitely recommend Silvio's to anyone who likes good Italian food.

We arrived on a rainy weeknight without a reservation but were seated without a fuss. We had the flatbread pizza Margherita, seafood with angel hair pasta, tiramisu, and two different red wines--a rosso and a pinot noir. The food was excellent with a tasty white cream sauce--not heavy--with the seafood. The mussels had been well-scrubbed with no beards and no sand. The little bay scallops were not overcooked nor was the shrimp. The serving was just right--not huge. Flatbread was very large for an appetizer; it made a whole meal. Wines were not served in wine glasses but in tumbler glasses. The wines should have been chilled more but one added ice cube did the trick. Tiramisu was surprisingly good although, alas, not having true ladyfingers. But the cake was light and not soggy. There was jazz playing but it was sufficiently muted to allow for lovely conversation without shouting. Nary a TV was in sight--blissfully. We plan to return and next time will reserve a table in advance. We had a lively conversation with the owner/chef who visited us at our table. He is very attentive to details!