Piccola Italia

My sister and I had brunch here on a Saturday . We’ve been prior a few years back and missed authentic Italian. The weather was nice and breezy, so we decided to sit outside. We were greeted immediately & the waiter was an older man . Maybe the owner?? The waiter made our 2nd experience AMAZING. I love how patient and kind our waiter was. The appetizers were at our table within 15minutes and the food 20 min later, SO GOOD. I’m sure it’s beautiful at night , I plan to have dinner there soon ! It’s worth every penny ! PLEASE visit this place if you’re in the Raleigh- Durham area .

The picture says it all.. 2 meatballs cut in half on stale bread with no added sauce. We actually laughed pretty hard and said “well, won’t be going back there!” What an actual joke LMAO

I ordered the veal marsala and sauteed spinach (additional charge) with a glass of wine. The wine glass had lip stains (?) still on it!! The marsala sauce was tasty but the veal was tough and a little chewy. The spinach was delicious, with the added garlic. I had to ask for some bread. I'll pass on this place in the future

Obviously the best Italian in Greenville. This is an authentic Italian experience, the owner is from Naples. The service is impeccable and the food is always superb. Fresh ingredients, top quality and made with love! The passion effortlessly is depicted in every dish.

It was a warm Saturday evening, we wanted to try a new pizza spot and had never been here. Upon entry we noticed they had some memorabilia showing they have been around since the early 80s. They had plenty of seating inside and out. We were sat right away and were helped quickly. They have various pizza size options, but the personal is huge for 1 person. We started with a greek salad, which was good. Then for pizza ordered the vegetarian and pepperoni, we wanted 2 options to try, Both very good. While not the best pizza in Raleigh, I would def go back here.

We had lunch here today. We sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather and a quiet lunch. The lunch specials are a smaller portion and were perfect for my reduced appetite, folks with a hearty appetite might prefer to order the full portion. I had the lasagna lunch special and found it to be quite tasty. My husband had the spaghetti and italian sausage. He found the sausage to be a little bland - he prefers a spicier sausage. He will probably order a different dish next time. Next time is a definite possibility as everything else provided a nice lunch.

Stopped by for a late night pasta craving. Wonderful service with great people. Our area could be better cleaned. We got the Baked Penne with mushroom and eggplant. It was alright

We enjoyed Piccola Italia for our anniversary. They start you with a bread plate served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I prefer it personally without BV, but it was still delicious. We chose Chicken Picatta and a Chicken Penne dish. I subbed my penne on the Picatta for angel hair. Every single bite of our meal was delicious. We chose tiramisu and cannolli for dessert, also absolutely amazing. The appetizer menu looked great, but we opted to save room for dessert. The location is great in Cameron Village with ample parking and the food has an authentic taste to it, rather than chain. Doug was our server and did a great job creating a warm atmosphere for us. The establishment has been around since the early 80s. You can tell they have put time and love into their business.

Wonderful!!!! We love this place and all they serve. Love the clams linguine and mussels. Absolutely delicious!!

As an NC native, Piccola has always been a familiar name, though not a place I frequently visit. My family and I recently stopped by, primarily because a popular nearby restaurant had a significant wait. Piccola, surprisingly, had no wait at all - and in hindsight, that should have been a subtle red flag. I'm happy to say the service was genuinely friendly, but unfortunately, that's where the positive aspects ended. Speaking as a Southerner fortunate enough to have traveled extensively, the food here registers as a "southern homemade Italian" style. This, as many other reviewers have pointed out, often translates directly to blandness. My "Margarita" pizza was a prime example: heavily drenched in sauce with a significantly underbaked crust. The result was a pizza that was frankly best eaten with a spoon. The only redeeming quality, and truly the only edible part, was the fresh basil. While I didn't order the lasagna myself, a family member's dish was so overwhelmed with sauce it was aptly described as "lasagna soup." It's clear that whatever version of "good" Italian this establishment once offered has unfortunately faded into a bland remnant of its former self. My honest advice? Skip Piccola for now. Save your appetite and wait for one of the nearby restaurants that has a line for a very good reason. I sincerely hope Piccola can re-evaluate its menu and preparation to bring back the quality it needs to thrive.

-DONT COME TO THIS RESTAURANT AFTER 7pm; -Table came without silverware; Could not get attention of waiter multiple times and when random waiter was asked for silverware she said "let me see if they have some in the back;" ???? -My appetizer came out with a dip made of olive oil and seasoning; You can't spread olive oil with a knife or fork; Had to get up and ask for spoon that did not come in the silverware wrapped; I felt ignored for a while; -So message sent was "deal with it" and "eat your angle hair pasta with your fingers waiting just to get silverware!" It was the sequence in the way things happened!!! Isn't that one of the first things you do for a new table that is ready to receive a new customer is to have silverware? Also did you know that when your waiter does not want to respond to your call, they simply pretend they don't hear you and keep walking? Which makes you have to get up and get it yourself or just deal with it; They got it down packed there; -Too frustrated to eat my food when it finally came out; I just got it to go and left; Frustrated at how things happened for my first time being there; -Have you ever had frustrating experiences like that in a restaurant? You could tell waiter was tired and really didn't care only doing what she HAD to do; The customer feels your vibe and can SEE how you feel!!Not Good and Won't Be Back........

Unfortunately did not hit the spot for me. The restaurant is clean and the service was great, but the food left a lot to be desired. Ordered the chicken parm which was around $21. The chicken was fine, but the penne with marinara was odd. The sauce was watery and the pasta was not cooked great. Overall, would not return

We enjoyed a fabulous lunch with the family and had a great lunch experience at this nice restaurant. Our pasta was cooked appropriately and the dishes were flavorful. Our server was courteous and efficient. I was pleasantly surprised with the place. I will visit this place more often.

Went to Piccola Italia before a show at Goodnight We ordered a margarita pizza The pizza was not a margarita It was a plain cheese pizza with a few pieces of basil If this owner is supposed to be an authentic Italian like myself, then the margarita pizza would've had fresh pieces of mozzarella with fresh tomato sauce. Pizza was bland and not tasty at all Please take it off the menu named margarita and just add basil as an extra topping Pitiful

I'm in town picking up my daughter for a long fall break weekend and I have some time to kill until Her classes end. It's lunchtime and I can always eat. I hate NC State campus traffic so I drive a bit until I see this Italian Restaurant. I could eat a slice or two. Due to lack of help their hours are reduced just so you know. Several diners were outside eating under and awning which is a nice option if you like that sort of thing. I don't. I don't like competing with insects for my food so indoor dining for me. This place has been in business for decades and if you want to be transported back to the 80's, you are here. The server was new and didn't know the sides (no big deal). He found out and told me. Their menu is typical Italian fare. Pizza, Stromboli....yada yada you get the idea. I opted for the 2 slices and side (salad) for $9.50. Oh my poor salad. One slice of cucumber, one small red onion ring and one cherry tomato mixed j. With overly large pieces of romaine. I ordered blue cheese which was unremarkable, kinda like the salad. The dressing was bland which complimented the salad perfectly. The pizza slices arrived and they were decent size. I got cheese pizza because that's the only way in my mind to taste the basics. Maybe I should have gotten pepperoni. The good: the bottom crust was very crisp. It was a nice change from the usually floppy slices where all sauce bleeds through and makes it all a soggy mess. This was nice. Crisp and took your attention to cut through it with your knife. The Meh: overall, the pizza is BLAND. Most of the flavor came from the Parmesan cheese and chili flakes I added after tasting it. The space was way too thin. You hardly knew it was there. The cheese was adequate but again, didn't bring anything to the party. I guess the biggest disappointment was the crust. I think most people feel the crust is suppose to be a blank slate for the toppings. I disagree. I think the crust should be flavorful as well. Making dough rise too quickly doesn't allow for flavor to develop. The crust was flavorless. Not worth the calories so leave it when you finish with the rest of the slice. The staff was friendly and attentive. The seating area was clean albeit a bit dated. Overall, a 5/10. Maybe if I come back I'll try something else. Maybe the pizza guy had a bad day.

Great spot for authentic Italian cuisine!! My family is from Sicily and I know good Italian food. This is the spot!

tried to call for a carry out like 5 times, phone seems to be disconnected. probably a good thing if they are not on small details like paying their phone bill food is probably not good either. I want try again.

Our favorite Italian spot in Raleigh! The Caesar salad tastes authentic and the pasta is delicious. Our meals have always been fantastic, no matter what we order.

Piccola Italia has been a Raleigh establishment since 1982. I remember coming here since I was a little girl so I had to make this review longer than usual to do justice. It's authentic, traditional home-cooked Italian food at its best and the owner Frank, true to his Italian roots, always asks me about my parents and makes me feel welcome like family. I think a lot of people miss this place because it's not trying to be glitzy or glamorous, it's a comfortable family setting, but after 40 years in business the food still has that same special something - and my dad eats here every week! My favorites are the pizza and the pasta. The pizza is hand tossed with a crispy crust and homemade tomato sauce. The Tomato Sauce is the BEST in TOWN - smooth and rich in flavor (the Marinara is a more bold and chunky sauce if you're into that)! The pasta is delicious and always al dente - just be sure to ask for the parmesan if it's not on the table (gluten free pasta is also really good). Sicilian Pizza is Amazing - order ahead of time for that. Meatballs and sausage also delicious. Thank you Frank and to your family for the labor of love to keep this place alive through fires, recessions and remodels - for my family it's a home away from home - Authentic Italian at its Best.

Waited an hour and that's our limit. Second time here and really enjoyed the first visit. Food looked good and once alot of tables emptied was sure our food would be out. No apologies when we asked for the check to say we were leaving. Second bad review this week. Sad. Wine was good

My friends and I were the first customers since Piccola started serving lunch again. We had the pizza and it was great . We have been going to Piccola for over 30 years. You want New York pizza then come here. On a sad note Frank, the original owner and pizza maker past away about a month ago

Glad we hit this spot, I think it goes overlooked with the more trendy places around it. All of the food was great and our waitress made our night with her humor and honesty about the food. All of her recommendations were spot on! Great place to grab Italian, I wish we had more time the Sicilian pizza take 1.5 hours but looks worth it!

Took 50 mins to get our food. I've never had an antipasto salad with nasty pickled vegetables on it. My fiancée food had so much garlic it was hard to eat. 2 hours later we both feel sick and I hardly ate my nasty salad. I would never eat here again! If you want to be sick to your stomach this is the place for you. $62.00 wasted money!!!

I ended up going to Piccola because the staff at my job chose this place because they hadn't been in a while and I have always passed it while in Cameron Village but never stopped in so when I pulled in I was excited to try it out! When I first arrived I was greeted at the door by the hostess and I told him how many seats I needed he seemed surprised because I was by myself but I informed him that the others were come! He wasn't very personable at all! Eventually the rest of the guest came and we went to sit down! They got a table in the middle of the restaurant that accommodated all of Very well. Our server was pleasant wasn't very talkative but she made sure that we had everything that we needed. Which was great, everyone at the table ordered something different! I ended up getting their lunch special pizza and salad and to my surprise I was full! The pizza and salad was delicious. The bathroom was really clean and had plenty of tissue and paper towels! The restaurant itself was clean as well! Overall this is an amazing pizza spot and I would definitely go back!

The service was great, but the pink sauce pasta was super lackluster. Def have had more flavorful dishes at an Olive Garden than here. The server was nice though, and the ambiance was decent.

My husband and I were in the area so we decided to stop for dinner. We ate outside since it was a nice night out. Since it was Italian I decided to go with a glass of wine which was a pretty decent pour (slightly more than normal I would say) and my husband had the margarita which he said was ok. I ordered the garlic clam sauce and it was good. Now, was it the best pasta dish I've ever had? No, but it wasn't bad at all. The way I described it to my husband is like I went to a friend's grandma's house for dinner and Grandma, originally from Italy, is reaching the age where she's getting too old to cook like she used to, but she's done it for so long and none of her kids or grandkids expressed an interest in learning so she has to continue cooking to keep them connected to their Italian culture. Although, it's a slightly exaggerated comparison, somehow describes the taste perfectly. My husband said he could see it based off of his chicken parm (which smelled delightfully). The service took longer than I expected, but everyone was so nice. I'm honestly surprised this place has only 3/5; it's at least a 3.5 at minimum.

Pretty solid Italian spot in Cameron Village! We went in on a Monday night and the place was fairly busy. I'm guessing that was not the norm because the service was sooooo slow. We barely saw our waiter and after waiting around 20 minutes for the boxes/check the hostess was finally able to help us out. I'm guessing they were just understaffed for the crowd. The way the booths are laid out is great for privacy but bad for trying to catch the eye of your waiter if he's not on that side of the room. I got the eggplant parm and it was quite tasty, I thought it was a little undercooked or that the eggplant slices were too thick. Quite a few bites were al dente for lack of a better term. I like that you can chose between a soup or a salad to start, I love soup so that is always my choice. The lentil soup was excellent and I'd definitely get it again. My husband got the pink penne pasta with Italian sausage and it was tasty. We'd definitely go back, just hope for faster service next time.

This was sooo good and the staff was amazing!! The owners daughter came by and spoke to and thanked us for our business as well as talked about memories!! Great place!

We came in on a Saturday night and expected a wait, so we didn't mind waiting half an hour. We noticed they had a sign that said they were short staffed, and we set ourselves up for being very patient and didn't mind having to wait too long without it being unreasonable. However: When we were finally seated, we waited 20 minutes to put in our drink order, and another 20 to put in our entree order. Our drinks arrived with barely any ice, and were not refilled once. After our food arrived, we weren't checked on once after that and had to ask for the check and a box, and then we had to walk the check up to the front. The hostesses were very sweet snd kind, but apart from that, the staff appeared rushed and frazzled, and from my job experience I imagine this is because of being short staffed. I'm not sure if it's a pattern of poor management, but looking at the other reviews from a while back, I've deduced that when a great setting like this with good food struggles for a long period of time to retain staff, poor management is usually the reason. I really hope the hire a management consult so that they can thrive, it's such a shame because it's a beautiful setting that could bring in a lot of business.

The food here is pretty good, but simply because of the service, I will not be returning. Today I went with a group of friends at lunch and the wait staff acted like we were such an imposition for asking for basic things like extra napkins and some cream for our coffee?? The service was kind of slow and we had to wait forever just to get our check. I had the lunch lasagna with a tossed salad. The lasagna was pretty good, but if I were to return I would want to try something else.

I came here for lunch with a friend. It was a nice day so sitting outside was definitely a plus. The wait staff is nice and its got a nice feel. The place wasn't bad, it just wasn't anything special. I had their lasagna and that came with a caesar salad. The salad had the perfect amount of dressing to it and the lasagna was okay. Probably should try something else but essentially an average experience for me personally. I think my friend liked her pizza so maybe go for that. Give it a shot if you'd like.

Piccolo Italian has the best pizza in Raleigh! Newly renovated with nice open layout. We have been coming here for many years because of the nice atmosphere, courteous staff, and good food

Excellent Italian food. Very authentic. Cannolis are great! Staff is friendly, attentive and efficient.

We have loved this place for many years. Sitting outside is very nice, and the pizza is our favorite in Raleigh. For a NY style cheese pizza, we think this is the best. Good wine selection, and the staff is always kind and friendly. The soups are also terrific. Many great memories!

Just ordered pasta with Italian sausage w/ marinara sauce, paid $21 for it got home, WOW, what a disappointment! Boxed pasta, weighed out, very little sauce, and only 2 small links of sausage. I've been going here for at least 30 yr and when called all the manager would say is the owner sets the price and the pasta price is base on weight. This girl will definitely not be going back.

Absolutely the Best Italian food in the Triangle. Veal Parmigiana is Outstanding. Service is top notch. Pizza & Calzone is Old Word, NY Original Style. Over 36 years in business. This is a must try experience! You will not be disappointed.

Weekday lunch here. We ordered angel hair pasta with "pink sauce", a large Caesar salad, and a small house salad. The food came with complimentary bread. Our service was really good but the food was just average. Kinda tasted like I made it at home with jarred sauce. I did have some really good vegetarian soup though. The dining room is not the most comfortable and the vibe is somewhere between walk-in pizza place and casual dining (maybe on the level of Chili's). It's not super expensive but not super cheap either. I would go back to order a takeout pizza since people say the pizza is good but no more pasta meals for me here.

Honestly pretty disappointing. Ordered take out chicken parmigiana sandwich and it was about the same quality as a elementary school cafeteria (first thing that came to mind when trying it). You can easily tell the chicken was frozen and frozen fries were soggy. Would recommend pretty much any other Italian spot in Raleigh!

I used to come here; for at least 20 years. The last 2 times that I ate here, before tonight, the food was very disappointing. So, I thought that I'd give it one last try. We were greeted & seated right away by the friendly Hostess, who brought menus & utensils. The Waitress was nice. When I told her that the last couple of times were disappointing, I secretly hoped that she'd pass it on to the Cooks, including Frank (the Owner). The Gazpacho was served at the correct temperature & was good. But, the pasta entrees were just okay. I ordered the baked penne in tomato sauce with mushrooms, and the left side of the plate was over-cooked with mushy pasta--while the right side was underdone...NOT al dente--but nearly raw. There was nothing special, or interesting about the sauce--it just tasted like bland tomato sauce from a jar, but without seasoning; no onions, garlic, basil, etc. And, there was a glob of melted cheese on the top. I was offered a shaker-bottle of ground-up parmesan for seasoning... I can't afford to keep coming back here after wasting my money on 3 substandard meals! Even a microwaved Stouffers pasta dish tastes MUCH better than the last 3 meals I've had here! I'm leaving 2 stars reluctantly--I guess that the second one is a "pity star" in remembrance of all the great meals that I've had here in the past. I don't know why the taste & quality of their food has taken such a nosedive, but I suspect that it might be because the "Cooks" in the kitchen are just that: untrained "Cooks", not "Chefs" or professionals--and certainly not Italians--I guess that their hearts just aren't in it.

Piccola has a nice classic Italian restaurant feel and ambiance; however, I was a bit disappointed by the food. My friend and I went on a week day evening and it was quite busy (there was an event going on in Cameron Village), but we got lucky and got a table right away. The restaurant was very loud and it was difficult to have a conversation. Baked Penne 3/5 - I was really craving some penne pasta so I was looking forward to this. It was very underwhelming. There was a layer of cheese over the penne, and the penne underneath was slightly cold. I thought about asking them to warm it up more but it was so busy that I decided not to, as I assumed it would've taken a while. The flavor just wasn't there. It was a large portion size so I had plenty for lunch the next day but I wasn't excited to eat it the next day. Small tossed salad 2/5 - This was pretty disappointing, even for a salad. I didn't finish it, which is very unlike me. But I can't complain much as the salad came with my entree so I didn't pay extra for it.

Very nice place on the outside and the staff is really friendly and attentive (despite being understaffed and busy they still did their absolute best). However while the atmosphere gives the illusion of a nice upscale restaurant, on the inside it feels similar to any popular Italian restaurant. My boyfriend and I have gone two times, and each time we enjoyed the food, but felt something wasn't quite right. So having gone the second time we agreed that the pricing for the food was significantly high for something that felt like it was rushed. I had gotten two different pasta dishes and each one had green peas in them (that wasn't the problem though) it was that some of the peas would be fully cooked and others weren't. My boyfriend got the manicotti both times and for $16 for two manicottis is a bit steep considering it's just cheese. Their deserts really shine and I highly recommend the Nutella cheesecake it is super rich so plenty to share! Other than some nit picking on the dishes the wine selection was amazing as well as their beer selection. The pricing for those are very fair as they are high quality. I have heard and have seen that most people opt for the pizza and having learned the owner started off in the pizza business it makes sense. We will definitely be back one day to give the pizza a try and see if that's the saving grace. Overall it is a really nice date night spot (the outdoor area is wonderful and heated) for something a little bit more upscale, but with a more casual feel.

After reading reviews, decided to have lunch at Piccola! Service was superb!! I was seated immediately and served promptly. My server was the best, she was friendly and attentive. Ordered the Eggplant Parm with a side of steamed vegetable. My food was served hot and my dish was delicious! I will be back! Happy Eats! Allissa

We have been coming here for over 25 years. Usually get the same thing but tonight branches out and got the chicken bruschetta spaghetti and the gladiator pizza. So incredibly delicious! If you want real Italian, this is the place to come!

Sara does not need to be a waitress. She is ruining business. We are long time enthusiasts of Piccolo Italia. 2 of the last three times we've gone Sara has ruined our meal. Her surly attitude and rush to close the restaurant at "9 pm" makes for an un pleasant experience. At least I know who to avoid.

Our server Doug was welcoming, attentive, and very helpful with his spot on recommendations. Food was cooked perfectly and served with little wait. Highly recommend the parmigiana meatball sandwich for dinner and the tiramisu for dessert.

I've stopped in for lunch at Piccola Italia and ordered take out through the Slice app. The food is good, though some items are overpriced. Lately, my favorite has been the penne in pink sauce with ground beef. They do a great job with the sauce, and most importantly, they cook the pasta just right. Lots of people rave about the pizza, so I'm planning to try that next time.

I've been here multiple times. The first time I ate here I was very surprised by the delicious food but disappointed with the service. It took someone about 10 minutes to seat me. The waitress must have been new because she had to go ask someone every time I had a question about the menu. The second time I was served by a wonderful male waiter who kept conversation with me the entire time. Awesome experience. This time around, I arrived and stood around for someone to seat me for a while. Finally, I ordered my glass of wine and food. My waitress did not do a very good job checking up with me. She finally came back and asked if I needed anything- I asked for water because I was dying of thirst. It just seems that the staff is not very attentive although the food is wonderful. ** just to add on, my server ended her shift and left the building. The new server was nice .. I've been a server for 9 years and I am very understanding when it comes to the service industry. But who just walks out without coming to their table to let them know who their new server will be..? Unacceptable. Heather then took care of me. Boxed my food and was very attentive.

As College graduates of the last millennium, my friend and I decided to take a nostalgic visit for dinner. A poor choice. My "eggplant Parmesan" ......maybe two slices of eggplant soaked in a red sauce with the consistency and taste of canned tomato soup. Two squares of deli cheese we're placed on top, unmelted. No appearance or taste of Parmesan in the dish. My friend's manicotti was just as disappointing. Following a visit to the ladies rest room, I told the kitchen that there was no soap in the dispenser.

We shared a pizza. It's a good size for the price, given that this is a sit down place in Cameron Village. The pepperoni and onion pizza was good without being fantastic. The crust is kind of medium-thick, with a lot of cheese and sauce. It isn't the greasiest pizza out there, though the toppings were generous. I would go back and eat the pizza again, but I don't know if I would go out of my way to do this, given how Raleigh has many more interesting pizza places to try.

Dang, this was one of the most subpar lunch spots I've had in Raleigh. Ordered lunch portion of their cheese ravioli. The dish came with a Caesar salad and bread. The salad was made with iceberg lettuce, cheese that tasted like It had been shredded a week ago, the ravioli tasted like it came out of a can. I like to support family owned businesses but this place is just plain bland. Won't be back.

We used to love Piccola Italia and it was our favorite Italian restaurant for years. My class gave me a very large gift card to use there a few years back and it took us awhile to use it, since we don't eat pizza too often. As the balance started getting lower, the owner and the son started questioning my husband about how he was able to use the gift card for so long. It was insulting and they were not nice. So we took our business elsewhere. After about four years, we decided to try a pizza from there, since we could use Postmates to deliver. The pizza cost $27. We were very disappointed. The crust and sauce were very bland. It's like no salt was used. The toppings were okay, but again, with very little flavor. Too bad... they used to be so good.

Hands down best pizza and pasta in Raleigh! Everything tasted homemade and fresh. Will be back!

We were in the Cameron Village area and the kids wanted to eat Pizza. Came across this nice place with friendly owners. The seating outside is beautiful- however we ended up sitting inside. The service of the place soon started to get us a reality check. It took forever to get and order drinks. The kids menu was VERY limited - with Only TWO items on there. The waitress took forever to get to us for an order. She refused to make a small kids cheese pizza for us. She even sounded adamant about making minor adjustments to the Veggie pizza we were trying to order. When she said : "this is the only way they will cook" for the fifth time- I politely asked for the check and walked out to go eat at Tazza- right across the street - with great ambience, way better service and a lot more food choices. The place seems to have a lot of take out pizza orders. However, our experience was less than satisfactory- and I probably might not end up going back there again.

Nasty waitress just told us it wasn't open. Didn't say sorry or anything. I've heard shady things about this place and I believe it now

this is the really good Italia restaurant. Pastas are REALLY good including their lentil soup. I give this a one star after a Asian lady answers the phone & hangs up rudely, not only that after 20 minutes later when I arrived, my food was never MADE "because I wasn't done with my order"? Even tho she told me it would take 15min and she gave me the price and everything. I go after 20min later, I tell her that i called on the phone to pick up two pastas and 2 salads. Everything came to $65 (it was tooo pricy normally I spend like $42 with a pasta, salad 2 drinks, and fried calamari) She tells me that we never finished my order that I hung up the phone and she didn't get it. ever tho she told me the price and how long it was going to take. It was very upsetting it wasn't even busy it was 5 minutes after they had open for dinner. My money will not go to this place ever again only after that asian lady leaves. The manager was really sweet and apologize professionally, while the Asian lady was looking like a murderer.

I've been to this restaurant quite a few times in the last few months. The service is always really great and I love that it's a family restaurant. You feel like there is history in the place, and that's what I love about it. My favorite dish is the cheese tortellini with the pesto cream sauce. I seriously love the taste of basil and they really got this one right. The lasagna, eggplant parm and ravioli is really good too. I can't say I'm a huge fan of the bread, but I do love the flavor of the oil&vinegar/herbs they pair with it. My friends ordered the garlic knots and loved them. I've also had their soups. Tonight was a chicken and vegetable, which was really good and had fresh ingredients. I had the minestrone last time, and that was my favorite. We had coffee and dessert afterwards, and it was perfect.

My friend and I stopped here on a whim after Tazza across the street had a 45 minute wait. An older gentleman who I am assuming is the owner or manager seated us immediately. The vibe felt very casual and comfortable so I was excited to try the dishes. However, as I looked around, I could instantly tell that they were short-staffed. Reading some of the other reviews, I can tell some of my fellow Yelpers had a similar experience with wait times and service. It appears there was only two main waiters in the dining room and the owner/manager was bussing and hosting at the same time. We waited a long time for our menus, we waited a long time for our drinks, we waited a long time for our orders, we waited a long time for our salads, and we waited a long time for our checks. It seemed like a good deal that all the entrees came with a soup or salad so we asked our waiter what the soups were. I am still confused what the soups were--one appeared to be a soup with rice and the other, a soup with pasta and broth that the waiter admitted he did not know what it was exactly. Feeling apprehensive, I decided to go with a safer tossed salad with balsamic vinaigrette and the penne pink sauce with Italian sausage. The salad was just "meh" with one cucumber slice and one ring of onion. The balsamic vinaigrette was just balsamic vinegar, oil and some herbs on top, which I suppose in it's truest form is a balsamic vinaigrette. We were also offered free bread, which came with the same balsamic vinegar and herbs as a dipping sauce (which seemed strange honestly, I was expecting oil). The actual pasta itself was okay. There was a decent amount of Italian sausage and they did not skimp on the sauce. My friend ordered the baked penne and it came out half cold and rather flavorless. Neither dish also seemed like the quality was worth the prices that were charged--$14.50 for the penne pink sauce and $15.25 for the baked penne. Overall, with all the possible food options in Cameron Village, I would not come here again and certainly this would not be my top choice for Italian in Raleigh. The long wait times to try to snag a waiter, and the mediocre food is simply not worth it.