Noto's Old World Italian Dining

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Exceptional Solo Dining Experience at Notos I had dinner in the lounge at Notos Old World Italian after work, and it was one of my favorite solo dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. The lounge area is relaxed and welcoming, but the restaurant as a whole gives a very authentic Italian vibe with marble staircases, statues, and family photos. Amanda’s service was absolutely outstanding—friendly, professional, and genuinely thoughtful. At her suggestion, I ordered the veal Milanese, which was perfectly cooked—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and served with a delicious side of roasted potatoes and strings of slivered peppers and zucchini. It was a perfectly balanced plate that hit all the right notes. I also had the polenta appetizer and was caught completely off-guard —rich, creamy, and deeply flavorful, it included locally sourced mushrooms that blew me away. Easily one of the best versions of polenta I’ve ever tasted. The wine selection at Notos is extensive and impressive, with something for every palate and occasion (definitely some bottles that are WAY out of my price range, but enjoyed reading the descriptions). Browsing the list was a treat in itself, I selected a red 2008 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino to go with the Milanese, which was perfect together and I'd honestly do it again anytime. What really stood out though, was after the meal, Amanda offered a tour of the wine cellar and private event space. That level of hospitality was completely unexpected and made the evening feel particularly unique. The quantity and selection of wines was almost overwhelming, was very impressed by the quality of storage. The domed brick seating areas created isolated sound spaces that would make conversation easy even with multiple groups or tables around you. If you're dining solo or with a group, or even looking for an upscale wedding reception or event venue, Notos delivers in every way. Ask for Amanda, her service was truly next level.

Fabulous restaurant! The food is made with soul and presented beautifully. If you're looking for fine Italian cuisine that surpasses expectations, definitely give them a try. Tony, the owner, is a true gentleman that takes pride in his restaurant and our waitress, Laura, was absolutely a delight to have serve us.

I couldn’t think of any better place to have my wedding. Thank you, Noto’s family For treating us so kindly. You truly made our day special.

An incredible culinary experience! We had an amazing time and got a personal tour of the wine cellar, grotto, and banquet facilities! Thank you, Noto family! We will be back!

The food was delicious. The service was top tier. Allison went above and beyond to make sure we enjoyed our experience. Hands down best service in Grand Rapids. Absolutely will be back again soon.

Went here for a reservation for a party of 20. We enjoyed a private dining area with a large table to hold 20 people. The food was great and the service was great. Our waitress was amazing and very kind to my 6 year old who had many questions! Would definitely eat here again. I ordered Stuffed Shells and had a Chocolate Hazelnut Tarte for dessert.

We tried Noto's for the first time while on a business trip in Grand Rapids. This place definitely deserves a higher rating. The food is great and the service is OUTSTANDING. At a time when service is lacking across the industry, it was refreshing to have an attentive waitstaff who were friendly, helpful in selecting menu items, made wine suggestions and cleared our table in a timely fashion. Our server even used a crumber on our table which is something we NEVER see when eating out regardless of the price point. This place is world class. Everyone should give it a try!

Top Notch service the staff were friendly professional polite and went out of their way to make your experience there as best as it can be. My friends and I went there and had the best oven cooked pizza ever along with listening to a jazz band playing Christmas music right next to a fireplace. Honestly it was a perfect evening and I will most definitely be returning to this wonderful establishment.

Amazing Food and Service! Beautiful facility! From the appetizers to the entrees It takes me back to my friends mom's Italian cooking.

Been a fan of Notos since they opened, when I was still living in Kalamazoo. We recently had a chefs table 5 course meal in their wine cellar with 4 other couples (10 of us). The Noto family absolutely knows hospitality. Their wine cellar is an experience I wish I had sooner. The food courses were delicious and presented beautifully. The Notos paired wine with our food which was excellent. All of us are still talking about what a great evening we had and how amazing the food and service were. Now that I know, I will be back for this experience more often on special occasions. Go here. You will not be disappointed.

Well folks, if you want to call elegant cuisine, wonderful ambience, and loving care -Old World? Well please do. Because it is! This place is forgotten because of its big events, people don't remember -you can dine here daily!! Took my youngest daughter for her birthday here, it was like going to Napa! Wonderful food, hand picked bottle of wine. Like grandma was taking care of us. We had everything, fish, poultry, and beef, -and pizza for my little boy! I had the bone in filet. Oh my! Bowdies, watch out! This is better. Oh, shhhhh. Don't tell anyone, but the price was HALF what I pay at the other big names. Had a hard time not picking up the bone and gnawing on it. Ok, I did gnaw on it! They didn't care, only smiled because they know: there's no school like the old school! Come back home, and to your senses. Notos will greet you with open arms, and send you back with a happy belly ...without pickpocketing dad's wallet. "che bello!"

I came here for a banquet and it the alfredo was strange. Carrots and broccoli in my alfredo? It seemed like they put leftover veggies into my food. The service was amazing though! Every employee dropped what they were doing when I asked for something. I find that to be amazing! The breadsticks were good though!

I recently had the pleasure of dining at a wonderful Italian restaurant that completely exceeded my expectations. Not only was the food absolutely delicious, but the wine selection was outstanding and the catering staff went above and beyond to make our special occasion truly perfect. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with warm and friendly service. The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, setting the tone for a memorable dining experience. We were promptly seated and presented with a menu that featured a wide variety of traditional Italian dishes. The food was simply outstanding. Each dish was expertly prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients that showcased the flavors of Italy. From the homemade pasta to the wood-fired pizzas, every bite was a delightful experience. And the wine selection was equally impressive, with a diverse array of options to complement our meal perfectly. What truly set this restaurant apart, however, was the exceptional catering staff. They were attentive, professional, and went out of their way to ensure that our special occasion was truly special. From helping us choose the perfect wine pairing to ensuring that every detail was taken care of, their attention to detail was truly exceptional. I cannot recommend this Italian restaurant highly enough. Whether you're looking for a romantic date night spot or a place to celebrate a special occasion with friends and family, this restaurant is sure to impress. The combination of delicious food, outstanding wine selection, and top-notch catering staff make it the perfect choice for any occasion. I will definitely be returning soon! They did the food for our very intimate wedding and it was perfect

We made reservations at Notos for my in-laws 50th anniversary. Our table was ready at 6 o'clock and we only had a short wait to be seated. I was a little disappointed that we were given a table in the center of the restaurant when there were plenty of cozier tables available, but oh well not a big deal. The interior is pleasant enough clean, if a little sterile looking Looks like a very typical banquet hall with a few plants and Italian esque features. That night there seemed to be two groups enjoying themselves. Students going to homecoming dressed in their sparkly, finest and older crowds like ours probably celebrating some milestone or family event. part of the reason I chose Notos was because I correctly anticipated. It would be a safe dining choice for my decidedly, non-adventurous-eating in-laws, as well as the fact that my husband's family is Italian. to start we ordered the meatballs and mushrooms on polenta polenta which we're just OK. the meatballs we're good, but were extremely small, especially considering it was $16 for four of them and they were tiny not much larger than perhaps a walnut. And for entrées, we had the walleye, the rigatoni the chicken Alfredo on special and the veal. It came out and it seems that the general consensus was that it was OK not mind blowing not awful just OK my veal initially was extremely overcooked and here I have to give them huge points for being very attentive and correcting it immediately the manager came over apologized, and had the chef remake the dish which upon, presenting second time it was much much better, but again not a lot of food for the hefty price tag that accompanied it. I would also like to add that it is impossible to get good photos in the dining room. I take hundreds of photos of food year and it is so dark that there's a reason why most of the photos look like rubbish you'll notice our dessert photos are much better because they were taken to go and photographed later under actual light. The entire experience was made better by the exceptional service. The host, our server and the manager that we interacted with were all incredibly kind, attentive and accommodating and it's for this reason that I'm rounding my review up to four stars. Because based on food alone, I would say probably it's a weak three. if you're looking for a non-adventurous, expensive "fancy" place to go this would probably be it. The total for two (tiny) appetizers, four entrées, three glasses of wine and three desserts was well over what we could've paid and had much better food somewhere else and despite the fact that I had noted it in the reservation mentioned it to the host and manager my in-laws got no recognition for their 50th anniversary which I thought odd. Most restaurants will usually at least comp out a piece of dessert for special occasions. At the end of the night we spent more than we wanted to, but my in-laws seemed happy enough, and while I would not choose to return, I can say they do their best to make sure you are satisfied.

Phenomenal, personal service Authentic Italian cuisine Fine wine cellar and selections are too drawer:) Definitely will retuen

Use to take clients here, it's been a while. Meatballs served cold, calamari served cold, French onion soup literally had no broth to it at all, and the bill close to $300 for 5 people is just crazy for the quality of food. Service was fantastic. Just wish the meals were...

This place is my favorite Italian restaurant in the area! The bread is amazing and their chicken piccata is out of this world . Can't wait to visit again!

This is the real deal classic Italian restaurant. First class all the way. They have arguably the best Italian wine list in the country. The lounge is super cozy. Tim, their new sommelier is a treasure. Saturday nights they host the premiere jazz trio in the city (John Shea Trio). The food is to die for, just like your Italian mom made. Tony and Tom are superb entrepreneurs and major community leaders. Joann is the top wedding/ event planner anywhere. You need to get in here!

Very nice restaurant to go to... I think especially for a special occasion or a date night! My family and I went there for an early dinner, and it was lovely because we were one of the only tables there. So, it was quiet and relaxing. All of our food was delicious, and there were no complaints about any of the food or how it tasted. The dessert options were especially great... as there were a lot of desserts to choose from. Everything that we tried was delightful... and everything that we didn't try sounded delightful! My only constructive criticism were these things... -For grating cheese at the table, I think a new cheese grater needs to be invested in. The one they currently use literally sprays pieces of cheese everywhere... including all over your lap. -Our waiter messed up my husband's order, and didn't bring him one of his side dishes. But other than these small things... I would totally recommend this restaurant!

The restaurant seems like an afterthought for this event venue. Stopped in for cocktails on a Saturday night and my guest and I were completely ignored by wait staff. Went to bar and completely ignored. Overheard employees complaining about understaffing for a wedding event; bartender called in etc., etc... So, if the facility is understaffed for a planned event, close the dining room. It's easier to close the dining room than alienate customers. We walked out after 20 minutes served nothing but STAFF DRAMA.

Our server was nice and knowledgeable about their extensive wine menu. This is great for high end dining. The food was so fresh and made perfect, i had the chicken marsala and i would definitely have it again. As a person who loves wine, the wine flight is perfect to try 3 wines to see what you like.

I am SO GLAD I tried this place. I mean, WOW. First, it's not just a restaurant. There is a beautiful lower level with stone arches and a huge wine cellar that would be perfect for a wedding reception. Clearly it's an Italian place and the food was very good. The portions were small admittedly - in fact, when trying to decide between two options, both servers that I asked said to get the parmigiana because it came with a side of pasta. Admittedly it is pricey for the portion, and I settled on the chicken Piccata (they brought out veal instead of chicken) however it was delicious. Our server was friendly and I was satisfied with the speed of the service, but there were a couple blips such as the wrong food order, throwing away leftovers that we wanted boxed up and lacking some wine knowledge. We loved the veal meatballs appetizers, the ricotta on top of the pomodoro was a delish touch! And the ham and mozzarella appetizer was a bit deceiving as we thought this would be fried and warm in the center like a traditional mozzarella stick, but instead was more like a chunk of cheese wrapped in ham (I believe). Still very tasty and a beautiful presentation. I'm not sure if it's in my budget for every day dining but I would certainly come back for a special occasion!

We went with a party of nine on an October Saturday night . We had to wait a long time for a table and had tried to make a reservation but they do not take them. Very surprising for an upscale restaurant .... we enjoyed the mozzarella and prosciutto appetizer . They have a varied choice of wood fired pizzas , small plates and entrees. My wife had the filet which was cooked perfectly and she skipped the potatoes for extra green beans. I opted for the ribeye and was disappointed at how thin the cut . I ordered it medium rare but at that thickness it would be almost impossible to cook that temp. Come on Notos if you are going to serve a ribeye it needs to be thick cut !! Pasta offerings and pizza were enjoyed by our fellow diners. Our server missed out on extra tip as she never offered the table dessert . That was a shocker especially for those with a sweet tooth or a desire for an after dinner drink.

We were so impressed with the food and service here! Valentina, our server, was so friendly and helpful. Everything was delicious. Can't recommend Noto's highly enough.

Love this place! Beautiful view of Lake Michigan and excellent vegan dishes. Service was very good, as well. Coming back for sure!

Loved the food, pork medallions with vegetables in a white cream sauce. The service was great. The atmosphere is quiet and candle lit, with a cozy and romantic vibe. Loved the Moscato wine. I look forward to returning.

Best Italian food I've ever had. Atmosphere is wonderful, staff friendly and competent. We live in Colorado but will definitely visit Noto's again if we are in Grand Rapids. I highly recommend Moto's.

I really wanted to rate this place higher but from the pleasant but very short staffed service and food quality I can only give it 2 stars for my visit. This was my first experience at Noto, and our server was very pleasant but they were very short staffed. She said it was her first week serving. We ordered the bruschetta app and meatball app. We were really disappointed with the meatballs particularly thinking a place like this would have stellar MBs. It came in a cast iron dish, but the meatballs did not taste fresh and were warm in a room temperature sauce. My eggplant entree was good, but it could have been warmer (luke warm at best). The medium rare steak ordered was rare and charred on the outside. That was taken back and redone. The filet with potatoes and vegetables were fine. We ordered a bottle of wine and unfortunately it came after dinner. It was a more expensive wine and needed to be uncovered in the basement cellar. The wine cellar is impressive along with their list, but service and quality of food does not match. Hopefully they can recover given I know are a year into the pandemic, and I know there is a lot of history here. Perhaps the banquet experience is different than the dining experience.

Noto's use to be one our favorite Grand Rapid's restaurants. As we hadn't dined there in a while, we decided to go there with another couple to celebrate a birthday. Althoigh the interior is quite inviting, the meal was very dissapointing. For our guests, this was their first time at this restaurant. Both had different pasta dishes and ended up not finishing their servings. My wife and I had entre dishes with chicken and veal. Both were over cooked and had little taste. The dessert of cheese cake was excellent. Our server was very attentive and provided excellent service. Overall, the surroundings are very pleasant but the cost for a less than satisfactory meal, was quite expensive. None of us will be back.

Just what we wanted - amazing dinner, great wine (although menu showed 2012 we got a 2014 bottle).

Have to admit we had the most wonderful time in the downstairs private dining area with great friends. Every course was outstanding and really hope to be to return for the wine extravaganza towards the end of the year

I wanted to enjoy a relaxing dinner while traveling on business and went to Noto's on a Thursday evening on the recommendation of a friend. I was one of only 4 or 5 tables in the dining room. The decor is elegant but a bit tired. My server was excellent and very attentive. The bread was delicious, but the oil and vinegar cruets were sticky and I needed to wipe my hands after each time that I used them. My cocktail was delicious and perfectly mixed. My caesar salad was fresh and delicious but I was not offered black pepper and there was none on the table. I ordered an unlisted dish at the recommendation of my server and had the chicken alfredo, but alas, it was disappointing. The chicken was dry and the dish looked as though it had been sitting too long under a heat lamp when it arrived. I don't like my pasta swimming in sauce, so I stuck it out and finished the dish, but found it to be lacking flavor. Overall, I expected more for a $65.00 dinner for one.

What a stunning venue inside! The spacious dining area sets a grand tone for the event to follow, a superb meal full of delights. The menu was full of choices including house specialties and I ordered the hazelnut encrusted walleye which was great. From appetizers, through to dessert with both wine at the meal and de-caff coffee at the end everything was outstanding: food, service, choices, ambience, including two soft check-ins by the Noto brothers Tom and Tony. Tony added a personal touch to give us a tour which included a stunning wine cellar arrangement, lower level straight out of Europe with arches and hand tiled flooring, and a grand "ballroom" set up for larger events on main level. This was my first time and we will be back. What a hidden gem full of family focus, charm, and great service. When you dine there, you become family.

We were at a wedding last weekend at Notos in cascade mi, I was so disappointed. it started when we got there and wen to the bathroom and it was filthy. there was no toilet paper, no soap and very little paper towels. We told the staff and they said we w get to it. Call me crazy but bathrooms should be clean before the guests get there. Then the hors d'oeuvres came out and one of them was little chicken kebabs which were undercooked, and instead of taking care of the problem that everybody was complaining about. They just told us that's the way they were so nobody ate the chicken. They were raw. Next thing we were sitting at are tables and the bread was brought out. Everyone was holding their bread because there wasn't a little bread dish at the table. When we asked if we can get one, we were told no. This may seem like a simple and silly thing to worry about but when you're paying over $165 dollars a plate your table setting should be proper in right. everybody received one basket on each table when we asked if we could have another basket brought out we were told no one per table. Where have you ever gone and not been able to get more bread again $165 a plate and they don't want to give you a second basket of bread. And then the coffee table was put out without sugar, cream or teabags for the hot water that was there. Until several people complained, then they brought it out again this is unacceptable for a high end reception hall. and if the day wasn't going bad enough as it is the mother of the bride with her two grandkids got stuck in the elevator for 30 minutes while they were screaming and my husband was begging somebody to help them open this elevator door to get them out, and actually had to call 911 because every staff member that walked by said, they don't know how to do it. When somebody did come the first thing, he says, nobody supposed to be playing with those buttons in the elevator. I don't think the lady and her grandchildren were playing with the buttons once he got the door open he did not even look at them and apologize. They were sweaty, crying and exhausted and scared and he didn't even look at them and say I'm so sorry this happened. He just turned around and walked away. What kind of people are we dealing with this place ? Lastly the parking lot looks like it needed to be mowed between the potholes and all the grass growing in it. I thought the place was a Bandan when we first got there really somebody at Notos needs to wake up and smell the coffee they can't charge that much for services and treat people like this. It was a horrible experience. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. buyers Beware.

I have always had an amazing meal here and the sommelier is amazing. He's so friendly and gives great customer service. He makes dining there an experience.

Beautiful facilities, excellent service. The pasta fagioli was superb, and the pumpkin ravioli divine. A not-to-miss experience if you are visiting Grand Rapids.

Four of us went for an early dinner. T took us a long time to settle in and make our menu choices. Unfortunately that set the pace for the rest of the night. Every stage was slow, partially due to being there while there were 2 large groups. Food was good but didn't arrive as warm as I world have expected. Potatoes were barely warm. Chicken in the Saltimbocca was slightly overcooked.

Nice place, nice ambiance, great service. Food was excellent and the wine list is one of the largest anywhere...they have 14,000 bottles in their cellar! Fifty bottles priced at $50 and below. Bar area looks great, too. If you're in the area, this is a great choice for Italian.

Wow! Probably the best Italian meal and service I have had anywhere between the Coasts! The Italian wine list is a mind blower, the food was without compare, and the personal attention exceed all expectations!!! Care like this can't be taught, it is clearly a passion for them! Go here, you won't be disappointed!

I cannot speak for the restaurant itself. We had a seven-course meal in the brick-arched wine cellar. It was outstanding. The chef came out to explain each course: carefully crafted from local in-season ingredients. I had been highly skeptical, but this was terrific.

Not only do I love Noto's as a restaurant, but our wedding reception at Noto's was absolutely amazing. The food was great, the cake was beyond delicious, the staff was so accommodating, and the Noto family was amazing to work with. They treated us like family throughout the whole process, and Joann made planning easy. As both a restaurant and a reception venue, I would recommend Noto's to everyone.

So I started with the Mozzarella Al Forno, mozzarella wrapped in prosciutto and baked. The prosciutto was dried out and ruined. It was served with tomato and basil salad... Bring you magnifying glass, it should have been called micro salad. The main course wasn't much better. Melanzane Alla Parmigiana (a.k.a. Veal Parm). The dish was left in the broiler too long and not only was the cheese burned, but the sauce was dried out. The interior looked nice, that's about all I can say positive for this place. I'm being kind giving it 3 stars.

Just like it says, Old World Italian, meaning it isn't all pasta and cheese like the cheap franchises. It's white linen tablecloths, old school, quiet and cozy. Excellent seafood dishes, filet and steaks, veal, chicken, and of course, spaghetti and meatballs, stuffed cannelloni, and other pasta dishes. 4 of us had dinner there and we were all happy with our entrees. The waiter could've been friendlier. I felt like I was imposing on him when I asked for a cappuccino. I asked the waiter what the potato choices were he said today its sweet potato hash. I asked if I could have white potatoes and he said no, they don't even have any white potatoes. Then he brought our entrees out with small white boiled potatoes! What?? This was my first visit since they hired the new chef. I love the menu changes. We'll be back despite the lousy waiter because the food is that good.

Normally I don't even like Italian food but my dish was simply outstanding. I don't recall the name of the meal but it was a pork dish with a bourbon sauce on it served on mashed sweet potatoes with some vegetables. I may go back tomorrow night and get the same thing. The service was exceptional (they weren't very busy) and the manager came by to make sure everything was excellent. I would highly recommend it.

If we could give zero stars we would. Sat 20 minutes with the bartender "manager" looking at us. No server, no offer to serve. I finally walked up to ask to buy drinks. They were not busy, it was 6pm on a Tuesday. Server we finally got was very nice and knew the wine and dinner menu well. --No tasting of any wine allowed!!! Dinner was good. Desert was good. (two delicious cannolis.) Could not eat more at that point. We asked to take remainder of desert home which was 1 and 1/2 canolis. She accidentaly dropped the 1/2 which splattered on the floor. When she asked the bum behind the bar for another, he let her know that she is to bring the box to us, not to carry the item back, and there would be no replacement for us. She apologized to us. The four of us spent $300+ with tips. No more canoli for you! We will never return to this poorly managed place..

My husband and I love Italian food of all varieties, and Noto's was a great choice for a quiet, romantic dinner. The wine list was massive (and the waiter was knowledgable about its contents) and we enjoyed our food (salads - Caprese and Caesar and Caramelle Alla Creme di Formaggio ... can't remember what he got). We certainly weren't blown away, but everything was well-made and I did like that they offered half portions of pastas. After dinner, we visited the bar and the friendly bartender talked me into an espresso martini. Strong and delicious and worth the interrupted sleep I had as a result. The building is massive and a little eerie ... my husband said it reminded him of the Shining and is afraid to give it another try for that and that reason alone. With Mangiamo! significantly closer, it's hard to justify a return visit, but I'm sure we'll make our way eventually, even if only for dessert and excellent post-dinner drinks.

After our appetizers we left. The Stracciatella broth had a good chicken flavor but the pieces of chicken were over cooked and tasted as if they came from a can of soup; also the whole thing needed salt. The Gamberi alla Griglia Siciliani (grilled prawns) was a disappointment. The shrimp was overcooked, the flour on the shrimp was burnt as was some of the peppers and onions and the sauce was a little sweet but mostly just kinda bland. The lemon it came with didn't help it. After those dishes we couldn't justify $25-$35 on boxed pasta (they don't make their own fresh pasta). My wife noticed that when I asked what was popular the waiter always directed us toward the steaks and fish while never really mentioning the pasta. They have USDA prime. If that is what you want this might be a good place. Given the size of this place I understand why they don't make fresh pasta but the manager told us that they do special multicourse menus in their cellar where the chef has more freedom to make specialty dishes and I think it would be worth a try.

No restaurant is perfect. However, I brought my wife, for her 50th birthday, along with my children and found the dinner experience disappointing. Our bill was $165 for four people, inexpensive , given the fact many entrees were priced higher than we ordered. Our food was a mixed bag. Some dishes tasted freshly prepared and others tasted dry,and microwaved from a cold refrigerator. An example, The Cannelloni Della Casa was dry and had no baked Mozzarella on top? The Chef forgot the Mozzarella and I doubt it was baked. The wine selection was good. The servers were polite and the owner gracious,and I would definitely give this restaurant another try......but the food prep needs improvement.

Went there for Mother's Day brunch. What a mistake. Food was cold, beef and lamb weren't cooked and too tough to eat. Never going back.

Excellent dining experience! This is real Italian! I recommend the Noto's Cannelloni, it is epic! You can't go wrong here, this is by far Grand Rapid's finest Italian restaurant. Tom Noto is a most hospitable host, you will love this place.

Picked up a couple pizzas to go. Don't usually think of Noto'swhen I think of pizza to go but sure glad I tried it! Fantastic.

I find Noto's a weird combination of old-school restaurant and banquet center. On one end of the building, a dining room filled with standard-issue wooden tables and chairs; on the other, a series of convention-like rooms that often host wedding receptions. We are greeted warmly by the hostess and she shows us quickly to a table that is not too near other diners. The light is dim, the conversation subdued, and the decor is low-key, simple. Our water glasses are filled promptly while we peruse the menu and wine list. Wendy, our server, tells us about the specials. She is efficient and friendly, making me feel like we're in good hands for the evening. To begin, we order the antipasti platter and a bottle of 2006 Dolcetto d'Alba. The wine is dry, fruity but not sweet...decent table wine. At first, I am unexcited by the antipasti platter (it's difficult, in my opinion, to match the quality of Bistro Bella Vita's antipasti). After digging through the sheer variety of items, however, I realize I'd jumped the gun. Proscuitto, salami, and cured sausage match nicely with big chunks of smooth blue cheese, shavings of puckery parmesan, giant salty green olives, marinated peppers, and artichoke hearts. Although the risotto special (curried chicken and peas) sounds good, I decide to try the featured chef entree: two medium-rare beef tournedos, topped with creamy gorgonzola, and a fig reduction sauce. Fig and steak? Yes! The sweet fig pairs heavenly with the unseasoned, earthly beef while the gorgonzola spread spikes each bite with the sharp tang of mold-tinged cheese. Our second bottle of wine, a 2003 Barolo, is much more complex and fun to drink, evoking shades of pinot noir but with backbone enough to stand up to the steak and cheese. Jo opts for a salad and Ivan gets the seafood linguine. Juliet orders the hazelnut-crusted walleye. The delivery of our courses is leisurely; our entire meal takes nearly two and a half hours...not unusual for a lunch in Rome, but a dinner in Grand Rapids doesn't usually take quite this long. Luckily, we are having a good time talking and taking the pace slow. At the end, Wendy presents us with eight dessert selections, making three trips to the center table where all the dessert "models" are displayed. I feel bad for her, particularly since three-quarters of our table is too full for anything more. Curiously, I am still a bit hungry! I order the cannoli, which turns out to be nearly tasteless. Disappointing, perhaps, but I'm still buzzing from the success of the fig/beef combo to really care that much. Finally it is time to go. A gentleman meets us at the front door to explain the earlier sprinkles have erupted into steady downpour, and offers us a loaner umbrella to our car. It is the final nice touch on an evening of great service at a restaurant where we'd expected much less. While some of the dishes weren't a rousing success, there were enough memorable moments to put Noto's back on my radar when we're considering local Italian cuisine.

Good but not as great as the other reviews indicated. Prices are high for some dishes and some portions were small. For the price,the pasta should have been homemade not out of a box The meatball in the spaghetti and meatballs dish is ridiculously huge...the size of a softball. I've never seen anything like that before, even while visiting Italy. Chicken piccata was very tasty but once again small portion. For $26, a salad should have come with the dish not a la crate. $10 for 2 small cannolis was totally outrageous. The dessert menu that was presented after dinner had NO prices listed. On the bright side, service was excellent.

Always an amazing experience at Noto's. The food is consistently delicious and the staff are attentive and professional. Their wine offerings are on par with fine dining establishments that we have been to around the country in much larger cities. Our favorite waiter, Jeff treated us like family the first time he took care of us. If you appreciate good wine and want to treat yourself, be sure to ask the Sommelier, Chad for some recommendations. He is great at providing options at a range that will fit your budget and if he says that a particular bottle is worth every penny he is not wrong! Must try menu item is the prosciutto and mozzarella appetizer.

FINE ITALIAN CUISINE! This review isn't to inform you about my High School days but more so to inform you of the GREAT people that really care about the people around them. Not only are they supportive of their community but they provide great food as well. Now, have you been having cravings for some good Italian food that is not just "Olive Garden" rated? Well, welcome to Noto's. I have known about this restaurant when I was in High School (~2001) when we found out that at that time, a teacher at our school, his family owned it. (not sure if he is still employed at the school or not) Anyhow, I was in Latin Class (yes, very odd for you Spanish Class students) but we were planning a trip to Italy and were trying to find some Fundraising opportunities. Mr Noto himself had heard about our class and what we were trying to do so he offered to let the students that were planning on going to Italy to come to his restaurant to manage the coat rack there for some tip money. HOW GENEROUS and NICE of him! Of course, I had volunteered ALL the time to do this. Why not? It as an offer that I took up to save me some money on my traveling expenses. When we got there, we were thinking "how classy" is this place. They had a dress code so not anyone wearing jeans could even be seated. I get it, because they were trying to establish a sense of "high-class" which I don't blame them. When you're trying to go out to a nice dinner and dress up for the occasion to be treated as special guests, you wouldn't want to be seated next to someone in flip flops and a hoody. We arrived at the coat room and thought to ourselves "there is no way we can even "bank" on this type of job opportunity. Well, we were WRONG. The guests there were generous to us. They saw our sign that we were volunteering to handle their coats in order to gain some tip money for our trip. We would walk away with generous amounts (I paid for my ENTIRE trip with this "job") To end our nights, Mr. Noto was more generous in feeding us dinner. Granted we were only there from about 5-10pm and only came into his restaurant to "hang coats",. he fed us SPECTACULAR meals. Each night, he would ask us what we wanted, and being passive High Schooler's we always said, "any leftovers would be ok". This gentlemen went above and beyond. He fed us FRESH meals that he would have the cooks make specifically for us. I can't even name all the meals that was served to us over time. We were even privileged to be surrounded by great management and great staff as well. They were always looking out and checking up on us. I have built relationships with them and I would not forget them. They all changed my life.

We started the holiday season with dinner at Noto's. Food was perfectly prepared - the gnocchi was melt in your mouth, the vegetables were crisp cooked just the way I like them. The wine was a very nice Valpolicella that was flavorful, smooth and didn't break the bank. We enjoyed the Christmas decorations and jazz combo in the bar area filtering through the restaurant to give that extra feel of romance. We will recommend to friends and are looking forward to returning soon!

First let me say I didn't eat here so I will reserve my 'real review' until I have. I went in to have a drink and listen to the band. It was 8:30 on a Friday night and the bar was almost empty. It's a lovely place, clean and nicely decorated. They took our drink order of a beer and a bottled water. It took them about 10 minutes to deliver it to our table. And we were within 5 feet of the bar!! The music, however, was great! There was a pianist a singer doing a fun and cool show of covers. They would try anything you asked them to do. I enjoyed that a lot. I need to go back and check out the food.