Arriva Ristorante

The service was excellent — the staff were attentive and very friendly. Almost every dish we ordered was delicious and well-prepared. The atmosphere of the restaurant was relaxed and comfortable, making it a pleasant place to dine. It was a bit too warm inside, but overall, we had a great experience. Would definitely come back again!

They’re very accommodating with requests and dietary restrictions here! They swapped out the risotto for spaghetti with white wine sauce and sausage for me no problem. They even brought out GF bread for my friend without her asking. Very much appreciated! Food was good. Sausage is alill bit overcooked imo but otherwise very good. The inclusive bread is great taste and portion wise. Really makes the total bill very worth its value Interior is alil bit dark and old, but perhaps intentional? Reminds me of the old decor style in italian restaurants

My son and daughter in law took me here for my birthday. We had reservations and were warmly greeted at the door. The old rustic Italian ambience was very inviting. We started out with a Buffalo Mozzarella appertif and the tomatoes were very refreshing. I had the Veal Parmigiano with pasta. The portion of veal was amazing. The flavour of the tomato sauce brought back memories of Sunday dinners at my Zia's when families and neighbours got together for dinner. My son had the Pennette Al Salmone Offumicatto which he said he loves so much he orders all the time. My DIL the Gluten Free Fettuccine Alla Puttanesca. She said the noodles were some of the best GF noodles she has had. The service was great! Would highly recommend!

We had an amazing first experience at Arriva on Valentine’s Day and recommended it to many friends — which is why this second visit (June 28, 7:30 PM) was so disappointing. The food was delicious as always, but the service was extremely poor. After our meal was served, we were completely ignored for over 30 minutes — no refills, no dessert menu, no check-ins. I had to ask the assistant for dessert and later for the bill, as our server seemed lost despite having only a few tables. It was honestly one of the worst service experiences I’ve had, which makes me sad because we really loved this place. I hope the team can improve, as the food truly deserves better service.

Grilled dish was wonderful, both of us ordered it. Very satisfied with the 2 pieces of lamb, chicken breast and sausage. Served with 5 vegetables and potatoes. Menu indicates there is option of pasta instead of veg and potatoes. Tiramisu is very good. Would have been even better with more liquor in it. Arriva has been consistently good as far as I remember. I remember it since about 3 decades ago. Cheers Arriva! Thank you.

I went with my uncle who’s been coming to this restaurant for 40 years and I really loved it! The only dish which wasn’t terrific was the tomatoes with mozzarella (the tomatoes were a bit sour) but the specials were delicious and their cappuccino was so delicious. As with the Italian ice cream. I look forward to coming back again!

The plates my girlfriend and I ordered were vastly different yet just as spectacular. The cream sauce creamy and the vodka sauce perfectly balanced. And the chef was arguing with someone in Italian which adds to the authenticity and ambience, second time coming, an amazing experience again.

Great people and great place and delicious authentic Italian dishes. Highly recommend this ristorante 😍 We barged in very late on Sunday night, were kitchen were prepped for closing. However, as soon they noticed my kids they let us in and have the kitchen on for another half an hour. Kids had one of their best ever pastas and I tried the Lasagna, which both were super delicious and rich in flavour. My wife Salad also came fresh and yummy. The best part however was not just food, but the kindness and hi level of care that we received from hostess. And our family really enjoyed late Sunday night dinner out. The space nicely decorated and feels like the authentic ristorante, well kept and well cleaned. Again, this is going to be one of my favourite Italian ristorante in Vancouver, we will back again and Highly recommended to everyone.😍

We visited here recently. The service was excellent, and the ambience was relaxed. Some of the dishes were great, and some good, but all in all, a totally authentic Vancouver Italian experience where all ages feel comfortable. This lovely and conveniently located old time spot also has something rare in Vancouver these days: it's unpretentious. Go, and you will leave full, happy and at peace with the world.

pretty restaurant, REALLY poor service, we had to flag down a server for everything, and there were only 3 tables filled (I see why now). the appetizer (eggplant parmigiana) was not fresh, and my main meal was the risotto di mare, which was paella not risotto and although is was a good amount of seafood, one of the clams was spoiled. I did like the grated cheese and a good olive oil on the table but the rest of the experience was a disappointment

A classic landmark on Commercial Drive i.e Little Italy! Been coming here for over 20 yrs. run by the same family, so happy to see the second generation maintaining the high standards .. this is such a rare commodity nowadays! Must order items .. Minestrone .. garden fresh vegetables .. refreshing when you have it in summer .. heart & soul warming when you have it in winter! Linguine alle Vongole .. don't know if I have it better anywhere else!! Fresh succulent clams provides the umami bases for the sauce, with white wine and garlic, this dish is a must order! ( remember to ask for chilli flakes! ) Tiramisu .. order it & you won't regret! ( have it with a Caffè Americano! ) Service is very friendly and warm, it is like dropping into a friend's home for dinner! ( a friend that knows how to cook really well! )

Recently came here with several Locals who have known the owner for some time. For italian food this unpretentious place with a simple interiors where I noticed Locals come here. Overall I thought the food was just okay compared to other places I've eaten at like Zeffirelli's. Desserts however were stellar as we shared three types with the tiramisu being a favorite by everyone.

One-line review: It was a nice evening, but the food was mostly average. We came here on a date night, as this is a friend's favourite restaurant. It was nice inside, and the place had a fun vibe, possibly because a larger group was there to celebrate something. We ordered: - Linguine Pescatore (mixed shellfish) - Fettuccine Verdi con Gameroni (spicy prawns). We ordered this special, as it's usually made with linguine. Both pasta dishes were decent, though the pasta was cooked too soft for our taste; we prefer al dente, and these didn't really have that springiness. The Pescatore in particular was non-descript. The Gameroni shrimp were different (gulf shrimp, possibly?) and were noticeably a cut above. The bread was also unusually good. Service was excellent. Here at the end of the omicron COVID wave, they are still checking vaccine passports. The waiter seemed apologetic and indicated that he'd be glad when they didn't have to do that anymore, but I told him that as a clinically extremely vulnerable person, I was grateful for the extra bit of protection, however fleeting. Parking on Commercial is at meters or sometimes free in the neighbourhood, with determination and a bit of luck. We transited in, so we didn't have to worry about that. Bottom line: This is a pleasant spot, but I expect that there's better Italian food nearby somewhere.

While wandering around the Commercial Drive area on weekday evening, the fiancé had a craving for pasta. After having tried some other solid Italian-based restaurants in the area, we decided to try something new and happened to come across Arriva Ristorante. The waitress was nice enough to let us peek at the menu to make sure we would be able to satisfy our cravings for pasta here. At first glance it was quite the extensive pasta menu (with some non-pasta options available), so it was decided! We would eat here. I enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant, it was like we had stepped back in time to a family run Italian Restaurant. The restaurant was larger than I had expected, and was a nice and quiet dining experience on a weeknight. We were seated at a table at the back of the restaurant, leading us to feel like we were on our own private date night. After much humming and hawing, I finally ordered the Fettuccine Verdi al Salmone because I was intrigued by the spinach pasta. Though I tasted the tomato sauce much more easily than the spinach, the pasta was hot and delicious and had a nice bounce to it, and generous salmon chunks to boot. The portions were generous in proportion to the prices we paid, and we appreciated the quiet ambiance of the restaurant. Overall, if you are looking an intimate setting for date night, Arriva Ristorante would be a good choice.

Arriva Ristorante is a family owned Italian restaurant that has been located on Commercial Drive for decades. Arriva serves well prepared classic Italian and continental (not including pizzas and heavy sauce soaked pastas). the daily seafood specials are a highlight here. I have gone to this restaurant for 25 years and have never been disappointed. Arriva is a touch above what you would expect on the Drive and maintains a steady and longstanding clientele for good reason. Highly redcommended for above average dining experience.

Enjoyed a wonderful experience at Arrvia's. I was in a party of 40. The food was excellent from beginning to end. Appetizers to the dessert. Service amazing- all of us were served at the same time- food was hot- and there was plentiful of it. I cannot remember the last time I had such fabulous service - great food- and pleasant and attentive servers -definitely well trained and organized. It has been a long time since I have enjoyed such a pleasant meal in a restaurant- highly recommend and looking back to next visit. Thank you to all of you that were working that evening!!!! Pam Dlin December 16th 2023

This commercial drive restaurant never disappoints. The food is tasty. Servers are attentive and familiar with the menu. Arriva offers a choice of tasty Italian dishes. The portions are generous . The kitchen will cater to dietary restrictions. The prawn appetizer is delicious The wine and cocktail list is varied.

Yes. 6.17.22 Back again. Nothings changed. Great service. Great atmosphere. Great pasta! Vongolé all the way. Will I return? Of course. No need for photos..... :)

Walked in, saw people eating but no staff. Stood by the menu on a table, waited, no one noticed, walked out again. I'm not sure how many stars I would have given if I'd been able to eat.

I've dined at Arriva a few times over the last year and all of them have been solid 3-3.5 star experiences. Their menu consists of a variety of Italian dishes, with several different pasta varieties. The food has been hit or miss. I've tried the pesto rigatoni, tortellini panna, fettuccini Alfredo, and gamberoni vino Blanco. While the first three were good, the prawns in my gamberoni were undercooked and the sauce didn't provide any flavour. The service has always been extremely slow and standoff-ish. While I don't mind slow service sometimes, everytime I've been served at Arriva, my server has been unattentive and unfriendly. On two of my visits, we constantly had to keep asking for water to the point where my friend just got up and got the pitcher of water herself. On another visit, I politely asked if we could get a little bit more olive oil/balsamic vinegar for our bread and our server scoffed at us and didn't drop it off for another 20 minutes, which at that point we were already finished with the bread. While most of the dishes I've tried have been hits, there could be a lot to improve on in regards to service. It's true when they say good customer service can make or break an experience and unforunately it holds true in this case.

This place is one I highly recommend! From the beautiful tableware tot he service I give this place a 5 stars. The food is just so delicious! From the Calamari I got, the Ravioli I ate and my dessert of Tiramisu, all 5 stars! The waiters and waitresses were always there with such great hospitality! I suggest you visit this place in Little Italy whenever you're close to Vancouver Canada!

!Ive given it a four but if you could rate the starts, I would actually give it a four plus for the food but a two for the service. We hadn't been to Arriva's for years as we moved out of town. It use to be one of our favorites for a go to place. I was happy to see a lot of the standards still on the menu and I had been dreaming about the picante prawns since we decided to go. I was so happy that they were still on the menu and they were just as good as I remember. You need lots of bread for that sauce! The tirimisu was also as I remember and one of the best around for traditional style tiramisu. There were five of us and all of or main courses were good. Some had pasta dishes, some had meat dishes but no complaints. Our only complaint was a server. You want a friendly experience but that isn't what we got. The fime of the food delivery and everything was good, it was just like we were doing her a favour by being there. Maybe she was having a bad night. We would give it another chance (especially for the prawns and tiramisu)

I actually had a meal here last "Italian Day on Commercial" and I was pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and tastiness of the dishes I tried. The caesar salad was fresh and crisp with just the right amount of dressing. I really enjoyed the Arrabbiata pasta, it was fresh and delicious and spicy without leaving a long burn. The basket of bread, along with the OO and BV were a good touch. I found the space a bit tight, and the service basic-ok. The house white wine was awful, more like a sourish water than an actual wine.

Good solid family style Italian food, excellent and friendly service and outstanding house wine.

In from Winnipeg, Went looking for an authentic Italian restaurant that would serve us ravioli Alejandro was such an excellent part of our experience tonight Food was excellent. He went out of his way and served us Ravioli which was not on the menu Well done, excellent wine and food. Outstanding evening Highly recommend this gem on Commercial Drive in Vancouver

Just finished my first and last meal at Arriva. The veal shank is a SLICE of shank, smothered in a tasteless tomato sauce. Risotto was dry and equally tasteless.

A Vancouver classic eatery. Glad they're still going strong. We've been enjoying their food for years. Others we know who've been in Vancouver a long time, they go here still. Always consistent and good food. Never once had a bad meal or experience here. Their dishes are real authentic Italian dishes. Very much like the amazing Puccini's used to, down on Main Street, with all the Italian women in the kitchen that could would cook like angels. All the classic Italian dishes - Delish. Their carpaccio, tiramisu, pasta, etc. It's steady busy whenever we've gone, rain or shine, summer or winter. This place is like a great patina. When all the latest greatest places come & go, they remain. And any restaurant that endures in this city after 40 years, they're *definitely* doing it right!

I honestly don't understand why the rating is so low. Two of us went on a Saturday night. We managed to get in without a reservation even though the place was packed. Our server showed up immediately to see if we wanted drinks, which we did and our wine arrived shortly after along with focaccia and oil/balsamic dip. The waiter took our order as well as happily answering a few questions we had about the menu. We had only drank half our glass of wine when our food arrived. I had the lemon veal with fettuccini Alfredo and my sister had tortellini of some kind. Both were delicious. So, service was great, food was great, extensive menu, and price point was very reasonable. I will be back for sure!!!

Wow, the reviews here are terrible. But after dining last night, I can understand why. A true depiction of this restaurant is more like 4 stars for food, 2 stars for service. First, the good: - spacious restaurant, A/C (which for a hot summer day was absolutely necessary) - pasta was delicious and a huge portion. I had the fettuccine with mushrooms and it was perfect. - clam appetizer was also very good, came with tomato based sauce which was a great complement. The bad: - service was very slow, like molasses slow. If you were hungry, you would be starving by the time your meal actually came - the server was really unhelpful when it came to the menu. I asked for her recommendation between two pasta choices and all she said was that they could swap the noodle choice if I preferred spaghetti noodle over fettuccine. - I love me a good, free bread basket but that focaccia was so dry. I needed the oil and balsamic to give it Life. - because the restaurant is so spacious, if it's busy it can get REALLY loud. There was a large group seated next to us so it was hard to have a conversation. All in all, if you want to just focus on the food itself then I'd go back for the pasta. It was reasonably priced for what you got and tasted great.

Extensive menu that made it very difficult to decide what I actually wanted to have. Unfortunately when I asked the server for suggestions she provided little guidance as she even seemed overwhelmed by it. It's slightly dated inside but very traditional in the sense it provides you with a homey authentic Italian restaurant feel. I had the seafood linguine which was good. The portion was massive- not just left overs, but another entire meal. Good spot if your looking for bang for buck but not if you want anything outstanding that you can't make yourself at home.

Stopped by for dinner with my friends and we weren't disappointed. The food was great and the portion sizes were huge for the price. The entire waitstaff was on point and the ambience was quiet. A nice and delicious meal. What more can you ask for?

My favorite restaurant in the city. This place is amazing, the best food, service and authentic atmosphere.

Bad service. Took over an hour and a half for our orders to arrive. Was told my dish would be right out. By the time it showed up, half the other dishes on my table were done. Was told kitchen forgot my order. No apology for poor service. When the bill arrived we were told that their antiquated system could not split the bill by couples. "Mandatory" tip for eight or more was still applied

If giving a negative 10 was possible then that's what we would choose. I worked and trained staff in the F&B industry locally and globally and have enjoyed food in many restaurants around the world but never have I ever had such a bad experience! We had reservations for 6 which we had called to inform them it could be 8 but most likely under 7 guests. We were told no problem but if it's over 8 we need to know. In the end it was 6 of us. When we arrived the table was set for 8 and I immediately informed the waitress there are only 6 in case she would like to remove the additional settings and chairs. We then proceeded to order drinks and appetizers a few minutes later the owner came over and asked where the other 2 Guests were and we informed him it was only 6 and we had let them know. He said he doubted that, wanted to know who we spoke to and was extremely rude to us. Our friends were so insulted we decided to leave and we asked for the bill. The waitress tried apologizing and then another floor supervisor but we told them it wasn't their fault that that's how their boss treats his customers! We were absolutely disgusted and chose to take our business elsewhere on the drive. I would not recommend anyone being treated so disrespectfully! Take your business elsewhere there are plenty of other wonderful Italian restaurants all over Vancouver!!!

One star rating for the owner of the restaurant who apologized to us. Do you agree that when you visit a restaurant, besides the quality of food, we as customers are also looking for a good experience? I have never written a poor review for any restaurant but my terrible and frustrating experience tonight prompted me to do so. So here's my experience: When we arrived at the restaurant, it was not even half full. We stood at the entrance for 5 minutes and no one greeted us at all. A hostess finally pointed us to a table where we seated. No menu or water served. We waited for a while and I had to go to the front and grabbed the menus ourselves. The same hostess who pointed us to the table walked by us couple times and after he picked up the empty plates from another table, he continued to walk by our table without even an eye contact. I excused him and asked him "Are we being ignored here?" One would expect a quick apology and some attention; however, to my surprise, he said "we are very busy tonight and you don't have a reservation. You should be lucky that I seated you here." I was in shock....the restaurant is not even half full..... :o I responded: "if you do not welcome walk-in customers, please put a sign at the entrance so that we will go to another restaurant. Once we get served a table, we would expect some attention, isn't it?" He continued to say "you can say whatever you want." He walked away. Wow..... speechless..... :o The restaurant manager probably heard our conversation and came right away and tried to apologize. He was nice and wanted to make up for our terrible experience. However, the hostess has already spoiled our night. As he was pretty arrogant in his response, we are all concerned he might do something to our food. Also, I was extremely upset with how I was being treated. So we left. They have lost a long term customer (over 20+ years). It's so important to hire staff who understand customer services. We went to Italia Bella on 215 Kingsway. It's our first time there. We were greeted by the hostess right away and our server, Colleen, is a wonderful server. The food was excellent and the cheesecake dessert was delicious. Reasonable pricing and good portion of food. The mussels were fresh and every dish was excellent. Italia Bella is now our favourite Italian restaurant and we will be back for sure. Try there, you won't be disappointed!

So disappointed last night. Been going to this restaurant for at least 30 years but, unfortunately will not be returning. A terrible meal from beginning to end. Mozzarella salad without any dressing, two orders of veal parmigiana tough and very overcooked, pasta overcooked and covered with a sauce that could have come out of a jar. Final insult was a cup of coffee that tasted as though it came from the bottom of and old coffee pot and lukewarm. I read other reviews and the good one were very old but many more negative reviews were recently made.

Very average. I requested a Fra Diablo Dish and the server looked at me as if I was speaking a different language. I ended up with a puttanesca that was bland and pasty. I came here at the suggestion of a friend. And now I'm hoping he does not read this review. The Perregrino water was tasty.

Randomly found this restaurant when I was looking for places with pasta. Very cozy and welcoming vibes. Our food was delicious and staff were friendly. I would definitely come back in the future.

2 stars. - service: with the price and the interior design, you would expect a lot better service but their service wasn't the best. I had to call the waiter myself couple of times to get waters while waiting for our food. - food: same here, with the price and the interior design, I expected a lot better quality and taste but, it wasn't there. Took about 30 mins for our shrimp/prawn appetizer and another 15-20 mins for our main dishes. In total, we waited about 45-50 mins for us to get our food. With the wait time, I expected a lot better quality. I had to give 2 stars because of these reasons. Probably not going back to this restaurant again for me.

I was on my way back into Vancouver with the wife and some friends on Saturday evening. We decided to stop on The Drive for dinner. We figured that since we were here, we should at least eat some Italian. We picked Arriva since it seemed reasonably priced and I had heard it was pretty good. We also were seated immediately, but I found the service to be slow. The place wasn't very busy, either. So I'm not sure why service was so slow. The food took quite a while to come, as well. I was a bit disappointed to find out that Arriva no longer uses fresh pasta. It's all store bought. I will admit it was pretty good for 'store bought', but definitely not the same as homemade. My dish (Pennette al Salmone Offumicato) was pretty good. But I think next time I'm wanting some Commercial Drive Italian food, I may try my luck at a new place. I don't discourage people from trying this place, but don't go in expecting homemade pasta.

Food is usually decent but very slow. Meat sauce is good but my pasta is overcooked this evening. Be sure to budget an hour wait time from when you get you appetizers to mains. (This isn't the first time waiting this long). Use to be one of our go-to spots but there are many good options for pasta that take anywhere near as long as Arriva.

We have seen this restaurant on OpenTable and haven't booked it. We're very glad we finally booked and attended. There was a special for Grilled Calamari and it was just like Italy. The vibe is great, the food was great, the service was great. The sound of Italian conversation was a good sign of locals attending one of their own. We had spaghetti and meatballs for our two kids and Grilled Salmon plus the a Tortellino ...great food and lots more on the menu to try next time. A highly recommend place and we will go back. Some really good rooms, for a larger group and private dining.

After reading the reviews for Arriva and La Rocca, we obviously attempted to eat at La Rocca last night. On a Saturday night without reservations, it didn't work out so well. Running out of time, we decided to take our chances at Arriva. The ambience was reminiscent of a high school cafeteria with table cloths. As an Italian, I was excited by the prospect of the antipasto platter. Om my god, it was disappointing. So completely bland and cheap. Terrible. My pasta was not much better. The sauce was questionable and my bf's risotto was made with suspiciously long grain rice and was in no way creamy. It looked like regular rice with sausage mixed in. I was so completely and utterly disappointed with this meal. It was the most unimpressive night out I've had in ages. The service was also unspectacular. Avoid at all costs.

I went to eat in this restaurant yesterday night and everything has been wonderful! We had an amazing buffalo caprese as appetizer prepared by our waitress Rodica,as main we had spaghetti and homemade gnocchi delicious simply! Service has been high standard,very polite and friendly, buffet in the room is very beautiful to see as dessert too I will back soon and I recommend this place to everyone wants to try Italian restaurant on commercial drive

I wrote a review and posted elsewhere in the past. I Do NOT recommend this place at all. The old fart of a man owner will ignore you if you appear to be young. The restaurant had like 5 tables going. Not full. The table next to us were from out of town and the party was larger, maybe 10 and they were royally served. Maybe because the bottles of wine were flowing. I had an entertainment coupon which made the service even lousier. The only person was good was the busgirl. The food was ok but I was steaming mad after having lousy service. When I was paying I let the guy at the front know that the restaurant was a huge disappointment. The guy was young, he apologized but I only complained to him with the old fart of an owner being within an earshot. I hope the service quality changes or the business will go down! So I hope this review will help! Don't eat here unless you like being ignored!

In spite of the average reviews this place has been getting, I still wanted to do this place as it has been on my bucket list for years. I came here for my sister's B-day on a Sunday. It was very busy but not packed. It took 20 minutes for the bread and olive oil to come out, bread is not baked fresh to order, therefore, not sure why it would take 20 minutes for the bread to order. The pasta came out 30 minutes later. Thankfully I was with decent company. If my sister and I hadn't had snack earlier than I would've been really angry and hungry. They have gluten free pasta, however, it is not on the menu. All they have is spaghetti. Beggers can't be choosers. Atmosphere was decent, nothing special and no real ambiance. Waitress was sweet and friendly, however, she didn't give off that efficient vibe. She dropped a fork that was covered in chocolate from the cake on my dad and didn't even apologize for it. My pasta sauce, tomato pesto was decent, however, nothing to write home about sadly. They stopped selling home made pasta which was their selling point, it is all store bought. I have nothing against store bought pasta, however, there is no reason to charge an arm and a leg for something that wasn't hand made with love.

Smoked Salmon & Vodka pasta simply amazing (9/10). My wife's "Gnocchi with tomato sauce" simply unbelievable (11/10). I've never tasted gnocchi this incredible, anywhere. Melt in your mouth. And the tomato sauce was rich and complex with a lot of layers to it, so don't let the simple description on the menu of "tomato sauce" fool you. I was told you could get the same Gnocchi with Tomato Sauce dish with added House Sausage and I'll definitely be ordering that next time. As others noted, it is strange that the focaccia is served cool (almost like from the fridge) but it was fresh and very moist, so we still enjoyed it a lot. Service was great (9/10).

Super lame! Me 'n' the missus wanted some classic Italian dining so we figured what better place than a pasta joint smack dab in the middle of The Drive? Oh, how wrong we were. So things didn't exactly start off well. We stood standing at the front for a good five minutes as we waited for one of three or four staff to take us to our seat. Not even a "we'll be right with you" or a one-second-finger sign from across the room. Also bear in mind that this place wasn't exactly bustling, there are maybe 5 other tables on the go so it's not like the place was packed and understaffed. It was to the point that we began to feel that we were being purposefully ignored. Finally seated with no menus so we have to wave down our server to get some beverages on the go and the aforementioned menus...the guy seemed pretty unimpressed that we ordered just waters and no overpriced wine. My general impression was that the fella didn't care for us being there based on his attentiveness and manner when dealing with us. Just atrocious service. I don't want to blab on too long here but the kicker was they gave us the wrong dish and had to fight to convince our server that they had screwed up. Eventually the manager comes over and rectifies the situation. They cook up what we initially wanted but nothing is offered in return for a spoiled dinner. So let's be clear, Yelpers: don't bother with this dump masquerading as "fine dining", you'd be better off at an Olive Garden.

Old fashioned Italian restaurant, which could mean excellent and genuine Italian pasta... Came for dinner on a Saturday evening and it was pretty busy, not full but... Till here, everything was sounding good: potentially were going to enjoy a good pasta! The servers were attentive and friendly, everyone by the old lady who seems to be in charge: no even a smile, not a word, and complaining because of asking for separate bill at the end... anyway, okay, let's have dinner The food showed up, after two requests, 50 minutes later. Reasons for such delay? None, the restaurant already passed the rush hour and was becoming empty. Mozzarella with tomato... one inch slices is mozzarella on top of one inch slices of tomato. Cheese was dry and tomato was almost crunchy... Pasta was well cooked, but there is big room for improvement for the flavours. Some Parmesan cheese seemed to be a big deal for the woman, but not for the other two servers. Couldn't understand her behaviour... Average pasta, maybe better than many other places but still far from been remarkable. And the service won't bring me back neither!

This place has gone wayyyy downhill. Walked in and an older male server just stared at us... we stood there akwardly before a younger waiter came to seat us. Maybe it was cause we were asian? The next few caucasian couples walking in were greeted and seated without hesitation. (Just sayin...)The place was empty.. already a bad sign.. but we figured it was too late to back out. The younger waiter was great and brought us water right away... even put the napkin on my lap! Ordered wine, and it was brought and served to us promptly. The food: The "mozzarella" (caprese) was$10.. the 4 slices of tomato was cut too way too thick, and mozzarella was crusty and hard to chew... ingredients were not fresh at all. The bread was cold, and tasted as if it came out of the fridge. Suprised they didnt even try to warm it..tasted really stale. Ordered 2 pastas.. so upset they dont serve no more homemade pasta..I could whip up a better pasta at home. Store bought pasta, and smaller portions than what I remembered. So very disappointed, as it was the reason for the visit today. Tiramisu was recommended by the waiter.. and it was the only thing that tasted good. However for $8.95/slice.. it was pricey! Ive watched alot of movies, and one thing I learned was to not complain about your food! So.. im just saving eveyone on yelp from making a trip.. and never returning again. Huge disappointment!!!

Service was abusive. We had made a reservation for six and we were seated at a table for four with chairs at each end. This is on a Sunday night with the restaurant not even half full. I asked for a table that could properly seat six, mentioning that the rest of the group was tall. The server asks "how tall are they? Three meters?" He says when the rest arrive and the table is too small, we can move. He eventually moves us to a larger table when another party leaves. The manager joins in - "I hope your friends don't hit their heads on the ceiling." I've gone to Arriva before and enjoy the food. After this experience, I regret giving them business and won't be going back.

I really wish I could give them more the 1 star but after my last dinner there I feel that 1 star is being very generous. Arriva used to be my favorite Italian restaurant up until my last encounter this last Saturday night. We had reserved a table for 12 for a friends Birthday and placed our orders(drinks first and then appy/entrees at the same time). During this time the waitress double checked our orders and made sure who was supposed to have what and even checked with my boyfriend about OUR order specifically. Our appetizers arrived around the usual time it takes and were delicious! No complaints about the appetizers or the time it took for them to come out. Unfortunately from the end of our appetizers to when the 1st entree was brought was over an hour and a half! The dishes were brought out staggered too so by the time the person who got their first dish was finished, the last dish had just arrived. Aside from this long wait for the meal the quality was not what I was used to compared to their appetizer flavor and our previous dining experiences. We are quite the creatures of habit so for reference this year we have had Arriva's Fettucine Carbonara about 4-5 times so we are VERY familiar with HOW it is supposed to taste. I had about 6 pieces of bacon in my dish whereas my boyfriend had about 20. It was evident by this that they did not make sure the plating was even. It seemed like they really rushed out our orders once they realized how LONG it took and how long we were waiting which of course sacrifices the quality of the dishes. We did keep in mind that we had a 2.5 year old with us, who was behaving amazingly even though he was hungry and had to wait as well. Most servers I know are eager to get the tables with children out first encase they end up being unruly so that the atmosphere of the restaurant isn't bothered by crying/whining children. Once the meal was finished and we asked for our separate bills we were told the system was outdated and they could not split up our bills. I was under the impression from the waitress when we first ordered that she was keeping track of this(as was indicated by her original repeating back of the orders at the beginning, not to mention she wrote them all down.) At this point we asked to speak to the Manager. The owner came over and started to talk about our experience. Now I am also a Manager and understand what 'Service Recovery' is. NOT ONCE did he apologize for the long wait for our food. In fact I got the distinct impression that he was upset with us. He was very combative and would constantly talk over us when we tried to explain WHY we were upset with our service. He for some reason decided to tell us that they don't usually take reservations for over 8 people and that other restaurants don't as well.(Their menu specifically states that for parties of 8 or more they have a larger tip percentage, not if this is the case then why would they say that they don't usually take reservations of 8 or more?) I have also been to over 5 Christmas Party Dinners at Arriva with well over 14 people each time so I know for a fact that he preferred a lie then to accept responsibility and apologize, like ANY good manager should do. If I ever tried to talk to anyone at work like he did to us then I would be fired. Since he is the owner my only recourse is to explain my reasons why I won't ever be back to his restaurant or show him support in the future. I wish the best for those working at Arriva but I am ashamed I ever brought my family or friends to this restaurant.

I have eaten here for many years, I get cravings for this place, I love the pasta Bolognese , I'll drive 20 miles outa my way to satisfy my craving, if you were a real italian you'd appreciate this place but if your Manja cake I'd take your opinion with a grain of salt, this place is great and the negative reviewers on this place are full of shit!! Fuck off, shut the fuck up and just enjoy this place fuckers!!

Formerly my favourite Italian restaurant, but no longer. Went with a group of about 12 people for a birthday party. Our dishes took approximately an hour and a half after ordering to reach the table, but were staggered so some people were already finished eating by the time others dishes arrived. The food was of lower quality than what I have experienced at this location on previous visits. The pancetta in my carbonara was barely cooked and the flavour was mediocre. When we wanted to settle up, we were told their out of date system wasn't capable of splitting the bill, and that we would have to work it out amongst ourselves. We voiced our disappointment at this time, and our server bought the restaurant manager to the table. When we expressed our complaints to the manager, we were told that usually they don't serve tables of more than eight guests (and that most restaurants don't in fact, which seems to be inaccurate) and that's why the food took so long. He said that their system isn't designed to split bills, he dismissed our disappointment with the food, and told us that our server is human and bound to make mistakes. All of these things sound like problems for the restaurant to rectify, not the guests. Never once did the manager offer an apology, and was rather rude and aggressive throughout the entire interaction. At one point he asked us "So what, you want ME to pay for your meal? Will that make you happy?" Totally dismissive and unapologetic. We were not a problem table, we didn't make overbearing requests or make a huge mess. We spent considerable sum of money on food and drink AND paid the automatic gratuity fee for a large group. Nothing was done to rectify the our complaints or even smooth over the situation. I have been going to Arriva for 5+ years. I have brought friends there, and always take visiting relatives there. That's not going to happen anymore.

Part of a restaurant experience is getting to know the staff and the owner of your dining experience, that being said, i have known paulo and his sons and the staff a very long time. I have attended baptisms, birthday parties , staff parties, and intimate dinners at arrive, and all my experiences have been enjoyable. The price is a above average but so are the dishes, the wine selection is one of the best in town for italian wines, and a good peroni on tap never hurts, and if paulo makes you a negroni your in for a special treat. A little hint if you have a large party pre order a set appetizer(s), then allow the guests to choose a main {most choose the pastas}. The prawns diablo, the pan fried oysters[ excellent and good with the focaccia {italian bread made on site}], and the antipasto misto are good choices for large groups and can easily be served family style, as well as a pasta with a simple red sauce as a second lol . A good meal here usually is spaced out, some people think its slow, but this is the italian way social activity between bites, not a rushed meal, so be forwarned, or just mention you have another engagement you have to attend before you start the meal, this will help you and the kitchen for a faster meal. I have always had a great time at Arrivas and i hope you do too, it is also a great place for lunch, and the soups are all homemade.Walk the drive shop at the hardware store next door and enjoy a meal as it used to be, savoured with a nice glass of chianti.

Was here on Dec.22nd, Place was busy- usually a good sign, however... Service mediocre, complementary bread next to inedible- cold, dried and chewy. Balsamic vinegar for dip- low grade (tastes thin and sour) unlike the better stuff I have at home which only costs a few dollars more. Pasta main dish - stuffed shells (6 pieces size of key limes) far overpriced and was barely filling (a spaghetti dish my friend ordered was literally 3-4 times the volume) with just some regular cheese as stuffing. If this were fine dinning with high quality ingredients then it'd be reasonably priced. If the main dish was inedible I'd give this 1 star. All in all, low grade ingredients at moderate pricing- most people can easily do a better job at home if they wanted to. Cannot recommend, would never come back.

Went on a Friday night, just randomly cruising "the Drive" with the missus for something to eat, preferably at a locale we've never been to. Arriva was pretty much the first noticeable restaurant we noticed. We immediately decided on this place and went in. We were immediately greeted and were seated. My wife immediately took a liking to this place. She said the decor, structure and the lighting reminded her of the many months she spent in Southern Italy and Sicily. Some of the staffs' accent and mannerism were indicative of people from that Mediterranean country. We were seating at approximately 9pm and the place was perhaps 80% full, but we both found the service a bit slower than what we expected. The waitress did tell us what the specials were and came back a couple of times to see if we were ready to order. I admit we did take a while to decide on what to eat, as this was our first time at this establishment and there were a lot of choices on the menu, but it felt like she disappeared for like 10 minutes from the time she last checked up on us and when she re-appeared again to take our order. A bit disappointing, but we did see the waitress carry out a huge order for another table, so maybe just bad timing. The bread along with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar came out quickly, but there were a few hit and misses with these. The bread were not just plain white bread, but actually seasoned. I don't know the exact time, but I found it tasty. My wife was disappointed in the fact that it did not appear to be freshly baked, or at least kept warm. Although from my experiences, I rarely find fancier bread and warm at the same time from any restaurant that isn't pricey.... just usually either warm plain white or cold fancy bread. Maybe it's just me. The dip tasted a bit off, I'm not sure if it's just a different type, but it gave a bitter taste. Didn't taste horrible per se, but just vastly different from the sour flavour most vinegar gave. The pasta came after about 10 minutes or so. Felt longer than usual for other restaurant. In any case, I did order a red sauce with olives, anchovies, etc and she ordered some white sauce with prawns.... for both of them, very delicious. When it comes to Italian food, my standards aren't high like my wife, but we both loved both dishes. I'm not even a big fan of red sauce, but this pretty much the perfect red sauce I have yearned for. Very flavourful, but not salty. While my significant other really enjoyed her plate, I found it slightly bland, but that's only because my dish was stronger in flavour. We were both satisfied. Of course, being satisfied with a meal doesn't mean it was perfect. Perhaps I've been spoiled too long by places like Anducci's (from years back), Anton's and Italian Tomato...... now I almost expect every restaurant serving pasta to be comparable in size. Unfortunately, not every place has humongous portions, and Arriva is one of those places. While not neglectfully small like some of those fancier (and way pricier) restaurants in downtown, I can say I can order a second plate and finish that too. The amount of olives, onions and other ingredients were a bit sparse, but my wife says it's a bit more authentic of what they serve in Italy. The whole huge plate of pasta drown in sauce and loaded with stuff.... that's the North American way. We got a tiramisu for dessert. Wasn't bad, but my friend was able to make a better tasting one just by watching youtube. When it came to the bill, it came promptly, but the waitress never returned back with the credit card machine. It certainly felt like 10 minutes before a different waiter came to collect the payment. All in all, 3/5 stars. The food was delicious and the ambiance was good, but the service left a lot to be desired. The staff were friendly..... just it took longer than it's supposed to. Would I go again, sure... but there are still lots of other places to go try out first.