Ovidio Italian Restaurant

1st time there. Won't be our last! Very cozy restaurant. Excellent server! Absolutely delicious food. Can't wait to try their other dishes.

Loved it! Great options, amazing flavors and homely, authentic food. Lots of options.

Always a consistently good dining experience. Food is amazing. I ordered Chicken Marsala and what a pleasure to see it prepared the correct way. So many Italian Restaurants now slap a piece of chicken on a bed of pasta. Not here... the sauce is authentic and light. Every one in our party were pleased with their order. Worth noting, when ordering, if the staff asks if you want extra cheese, be prepared for a boatload, but know that there's an extra cost which is fair.

What a wonderful restaurant! Wanted a fun Italian place for my wife's birthday dinner, and I'm happy I choose Ovidio. I've driven past it for so many years, I should have tried it sooner. Our waitress, Joanna, was so much fun. Service was excellent and the food was amazing!! Will go back again very soon!!

Amazing service! Brought a cake in and they held it for us in the fridge, brought it out lit up, and served us. Never had an empty glass on our table and the food was great. The service was by far the best in Fresno.

Let's start by saying you need a reservation. If not, you are going to wait. The wait staff was too busy to help as we waited a while after we were seated and forget about getting a refill on drinks. But the chicken picacca was really good. It was a different experience

Service was great, the second you put your fork or spoon down, your plate disappeared. Nice atmosphere but really loud with the echoing off the brick. The food was good but not worth 5 stars. The pink sauce was the best. Carbonara was really just Alfredo, which was really heavy. We had pizza as an appetizer, which worked out well for six of us. The toppings on the Margarita pizza were great, but the crust was dry and cracker like. No chew at all. Overall, it was a good experience for a Saturday night!

Bad experience, service did their best but we had to leave because after 60 minutes, 1 hour, our food was still not ready. We had 2 other tables that still needed to be served before we would of gotten our food. It also took about 30 minutes to be greeted by a server. We had been brought bread and water but it took 30 minutes to have our drink order taken. I talked to the staff a few times and was eventually told they would just comp our meal I let them know we didnt have time to continue to wait and they could just toss it out. We left with out getting our food. Don't think we will give this one another chance after we had since been told by 3 locals (that live closer to it) that they no longer go as the service has been going down hill for a while now. They mentioned long wait times for food, people on their phones playing loud music as they also wait for their food and kids running around with out staff asking the parents to do anything. I didnt see any kids running around but we did have the table next to us playing on their cell phone with the video making enough noise to be distracting. Also the long wait time was 100% correct.

Ovidio's is one of the better spots in Fresno for hearty, flavorful Italian food. Their pasta dishes are always solid, and the pink sauce here is amazing, super creamy, rich, and packed with flavor. The meatballs are also really good: tender, well-seasoned, and definitely a highlight if you enjoy classic Italian comfort dishes. Their pizza is another strong point, with a great crust and generous toppings that make it really satisfying. It is a bit pricey, but the quality of the food usually makes it worth it. My only real complaint is that the restaurant tends to be very busy, especially during peak hours, so you might have to wait a while to be seated. Still, the staff is friendly and the atmosphere is warm and lively, which helps make the experience enjoyable. Overall, Ovidio's offers consistently delicious food, especially the meatballs and that fantastic pink sauce, making it a great choice if you're craving Italian and don't mind the crowds or slightly higher prices.

IDK... mixed feelings. It was my first time here and the service was really subpar. From checking in at the hostess counter to getting our check. We waited a good few minutes for the hostess to even speak to us. Granted she was on the phone but no finger up "be right with you", not even a smile to acknowledge us. I guess the glances she gave us let me know we weren't invisible. Then we had to walk back outside and into the other door where the bar was and where our Reserved table was. The server seemed friendly but I quickly noticed she was schmoozing more than "serving". Half the table got drink orders, the other half (where I was) got nothing. The busser/runner (sorry I don't know the official title) was running around bringing us bread and keeping our water glasses filled. I'd say a good 20-30min to take our food order. Which, if only half the tables got drinks.....??? Sure you were handling the rest of tables in the bar room but our party was larger than all of the other patrons combined. Our food arrived and it was definitely delicious! Hubby and I shared the combo plate and it was amazing! This was the highlight of our visit! The third and final time we saw our server was when she was bringing our checks. And all questions were answered. The 20% tip was already included!!!! Now I'd hate to think this was the reason for the shoddy service, but draw your own conclusion. I really feel it's the duty of the staff to be proactive and inform patrons of short-staff, larger parties or anything else that may hinder the dining experience. My review would have been totally different! Not sure if I'll be back. But definitely not for dine-in.

Our rating: 4.6. We have been fans of this restaurant for 19 years and have rarely been disappointed with the food or service. Food is very good. Reminds me of good, old-fashioned Italian restaurants with Grandmom in the kitchen turning out rich, flavorful food. Ambience is quite nice, comfortable and you can actually talk to your companions without yelling. Lovely patio dining that allows pets. While not cheap, the prices and quality are comparable. Excellent service with knowledgeable and friendly servers. Family run with members often there and interacting with guests.

The food was excellent, the atmosphere charming, and the service exceptional. So weird. I've lived in Fresno for 19 years. Much of that time near Palm & Sierra. I've seen Ovidios hundreds of times as I've driven by, but nothing ever attracted me to it. Finally a friend recommended I try it. I figured I didn't need a reservation, but called anyway and got a table for 2 at 5:30 on a Friday. My wife and I walked in, and there were two other couples eating, and I thought it would be just us. Lo and behold, over the next 60 minutes, the place became packed. Every table full, including the patio. I was stunned. How did I not know about this unpretentious place. Stunningly good.

Friendly & efficient service. Food tasted very fresh and came out of the kitchen piping hot . House made calzone dough was great! Love the option to add fresh blue cheese crumbles to the salad. Also liked the cute little bar and fun cocktail glasses.

My bride and I went here for dinner on a Saturday night. We got a table and got to work. The place was packed. We ordered an appetizer, Bruschetta. It was delicious. I ordered Rigatoni and meatballs, it was ok. My bride ordered the lasagna, it was ok too. The service was good. I have always liked Ovidios, I would go back.

Our pick tonight for dinner is close. So daughter go pick new place and here we are . We got sit right away. We order and foods are served. My husband is the pickiest one in our family but he approved food are delicious, generous portions and price are great. The cons it's located on the west side so it's really hard to go that way. We definitely will come again next time !!

We've been coming here for years, Rocco and his staff are always polite and make you feel welcome. The food is always well prepared and delicious. Mixed drinks are nice, and the atmosphere is warm. The new chairs are more comfortable as well which is nice. One of my favorite places to visit.

The customer service was fast, friendly, and filled with solid menu recommendations. The food was packed with flavor!!! Absolutely loved the Chicken Marsala and Lobster Ravioli!!! You will not be disappointed. The bread was super soft and a perfect compliment with our meal. The ambiance is an old school Italian family style restaurant. The place is definitely worth trying. It will become one of your fav restaurants as well.

Always a great time and good food At Ovidio's!! Been coming here for years and food is always consistent with Flavor! I like the Osso Bucco. And eating Family Style with Franco Paolilli (Chef & Owner) is always a Surprise! Pizzas here are the best!

Ovidios is a cute Italian restaurant in Fig Garden that is very average and high cost for what you get. We had reservations at 630 on a Sunday, and had a small 15 minute wait before getting to our table. The bread and butter were very ordinary, like rolls you'd get from the grocery store. We ordered the pesto fresa pizza which was 2/5 stars for me. The crust was dense and the cheese laid on too thick. Pizza toppings were nothing special. The scampi limone with fettuccine was the star of the night (4/5 stars). The shrimp were butterflies and very juicy. The butter lemon sauce coated the al dente pasta. Nothing noteworthy with the vegetables. Medium pizza was $22 and pasta was $28. For the cost and quality, there are other nice restaurants we'd probably choose over Ovidios.

Ovidios is a very nice Italian place. Food and service were excellent. I had the Gnocchi with the house marinara it was delicious! My Grandma had the chicken Marsala which she enjoyed also. We had a lovely time here. Definitely recommend if you like Italian food.

Fresno staple. Food is always top notch. Great service. Owner always checks in on our table even though he doesn't know us. Old school class. Not many places like this left

Great service and staff. Specialty drinks and food are the best. Authentic atmosphere. Enjoying hanging with friends and family at this restaurant.

What the heck recipe of eggplant parmigiana did you make me tonight? It was the worst I 've ever eaten. Flabby eggplant slices with that fake mushy mozzarella swimming in a weird not quite red sauce. The mushroom pieces were nice although not very many. No texture just mush. It was gross. In past years i had that dish And i remembered liking it. Not any more. Not sure what changed in the kitchen but its not a good thing. I also have to say, a few years back i ordered spaghetti with mushroom sauce expecting fresh mushrooms. They were canned. It was nasty. Hubs had the combo with regular red sauce. He said it was ok. He's not as picky or experienced with recipes and good cooking as me. We dd takeout so am assuming no complaints about service.

The service was great. The second you put your fork or spoon down, your plate disappeared. Nice atmosphere but really loud with the echoing off the brick. The food was good but not worth 5 stars. The pink sauce was the best. Carbonara was really just Alfredo, which was really heavy. We had pizza as an appetizer, which worked out well for six of us. The toppings on the Margarita pizza were great, but the crust was dry and cracker like. No chew at all. Overall, it was a good experience for a Saturday night!

We just there for our 50th anniversary. My daughters, son in-laws and grandkids were there with us to celebrate.' They enjoyed atmosphere. Cameron was our waiter and he did a super job taking care of our needs. Rocco the owner came by to welcome us and thank us, for dining there. Well Rocco just gained 8 new customers. They said the food was delicious, the service excellent (thank you Cameron) . My family didn t know about Obvidios and are going back for the great food and atmosphere. Thank you Ovidios for great service and cuisin. See ya soon!

My husband and I went years ago and it was horrible. HOWEVER, a friend and I went a couple of weeks ago and it was delicious. I couldn't get her meatball sandwich out of my head so I went today. Great service and Amazing food. I didn't need the fries but they're ridiculous. My salad was fresh and cold and the bread is delicious. Highly recommend them!

Food was outstanding! Service was on par and the setting was very pleasant! I was craving lasagna and it was very delicious and a large serving.

Ambiance is typical of local Italian restaurants. The gal who greeted us was irritated by our presence. And at 5pm on a Friday seemed surprised we were there for dinner. Our waiter was good. He waited patiently for our order and asked once how we were doing. We did have to flag down a bus boy for boxes. Please note, there were only 3 tables occupied including us. The bread was served with butter packets and 2 hand-packed containers of fake Parmesan. My husband's salad came with a hand-packed container dry blue. My combo was served with a too sweet vodka sauce. I was surprised that it wasn't served with a traditional meat sauce. My husband chose a chicken dish rolled around prosciutto and cheese. It was a special and very good. The description did not mention it would be covered in mushrooms. He wasn't thrilled but I was delighted. We were not offered fresh Parmesan or pepper. I would expect these shortcomings at a lower rent restaurant but at $30 per plate it felt cheap and the food was only ok.

Thank you all for the great job caring for all of us at the family memorial. The food was great. You were very attentive to our needs. The room was lovely and clean. It is a pretty room. We will certainly tell others to consider you for their family occasions!

We visited on a Sunday 6pm, the restaurant was packed. We did not have reservation , but seated after a short wait. Started with a well made Martini and wine. We started with antipasto, the presentation was art and delicious. We should have tried one of the specialties on the menu, but ordered pizza and calzone. Unfortunately not our dishes were not the best effort. Pizza overcooked with dried toppings. The crust burned on the bottom and still not crisp. Calzone just average. We will blame our disappointment on the very busy night and try other visit.

My chicken fettuccine alfredo was delicious!!! The waiter could have been more attentive but overall, our food came quickly once we did place our order.

Food is not authentic and arrived cold. Service was very slow they had one waitress for six tables. The ambiance was so loud there was a group having lunch and one of the people in group had the most loudest annoying laugh ever on earth that the waiter was just as annoyed because she couldn't hear our order. This is a first and last time restaurant. Ohh the pizza is frozen pizza dough not worth no $$26

Damn, my boyfriend and I really wanted to like this restaurant. I enjoyed the aesthetic of it and was relieved by the nice mist they had available on their patio. Our bread, salad and clam chowder were great, but my chicken Parmesan tasted like it had been sitting in the fridge for a couple days before they served it to me, the marinara was reminiscent of chef boyardee, the freshest thing on my plate were the huge pieces of vegetables that needed to be cooked a little bit longer. My boyfriend got veal Milanese which he enjoyed most of until the last few bites which he said tasted frozen. The day we went there was a private party inside so we sat outside which was nice except the waitstaff stored their water cups outside too and there were remnants of dead leaves inside our cups when the waiter poured us water. With all that said the staff were friendly. It's a shame because it's such a cute restaurant. The bill was over $80 too which is overpriced for what we got.

Went to Ovidio's for their special $45 3 course dinner with a friend. I ordered the chicken Parmesan & it was the worst! The breaded chicken used in the dish tasted like a Tyson's pre-cooked breaded chicken patty covered in red sauce & mozzarella cheese. The chicken definitely wasn't a real chicken breast! So disappointed with the meal!

I ordered the eggplant Parmesan and it did not disappoint. The red sauce was perfect! Not sweet and spiced well. Did not need to add salt or pepper. The bread was good and it used a lot of it to soak up the sauce from the eggplant Parmesan. The service was not great as we had to ask for our drinks and bread a couple of times and received the wrong drink order. When they asked if we were ok, they quickly turned around before we could answer. When I looked around, the place was not busy as I was looking for an excuse. But the staff was friendly overall. Plenty of parking in the lot and the outdoor dining had misters to cool off in.

Order lasagna and roasted vegetables and bread and butter for a family get together. Everything was delicious thank you so much. I'll be doing this again and again.

My first time eating here. Kind of last minute decision so we didn't have reservations. Tiny busy lobby with people waiting for their to go orders. Inside was pretty and most tables were full and a bit too close together so I was happy there was also patio tables available. We were seated promptly. Cute patio area. The owners daughter was our server. She was very friendly and attentive. Bread, butter and parmesan was brought out. I had a cocktail. It was a little stingy with the alcohol. I had clam chowder. It was thick and flavorful and tasted homemade. Little skimpy on the clams. I'm being greedy. Really liked it. I also had chicken parmesan. It came with mixed veggies and pasta. The chicken was tender and moist and a huge portion. The veggies were cooked perfectly. Not soggy. The sauce was delicious on the pasta and chicken. I wish they sold it in jars. My husband and I had a wonderful dinner.

The food was average and pretty mediocre. Very much like Fresno level Italian. My dish was downed in sauce to the point when the plate came all I could see was a pile of something completely flooded and covered in sauce. If one wanted a real quality Iralian food experience they would be better off making it at home or going out of town. The servers were friendly. I felt bad for them having to work so hard for such a marginal product. It was expensive for what it was. The value isn't there for the cost. Ambiance was reasonable. Some of that was due to Fresno spring weather and being able to dine outside.

At this locally/family owned restaurant the food is priority number one. The pastas are amazing of course but all of the other dishes I've tried were equally good. The service is good and the ambiance is one of feeling like you're eating with family...High energy with lots of conversation and celebration taking place!

Lunchtime! They have their phones off and one door is locked. I went into the other door. Opened. It's the bar area and it's nice. Clean and safe. Music playing. Calm atmosphere. I ordered 2 small cups of minestrone soup and a veggie calzone with chicken added. Not very kind worker, but was nicer after ordering. Thankfully! Paid for the order. Received soups first. Bread comes with it. Waited for the calzone. Short wait and it was ready and handed over with good day wishes. =) I got Lunch set up and split. The soup was really tasty! Fresh veggies and the mini bread pieces that came with it were great to dip in and have with it. Calzone split. My half was really delicious! Thick pieces of chicken, veggies and the tomato sauce that came with it was Fantastic! Scrumptious! Mother said hers was great! Said it tasted fresh and was great! Good service and really great lunch! Highly recommended!

My full review is here. But let me just say this was a fantastic experience and Vicky was absolutely wonderful. https://www.facebook.com/61558129047336/posts/pfbid02o6pWtrMuYncha5GdykQDmZC4ApQFvAhyv61kLGxfGaSmZyY5ogxf7s1uLFnDKRjrl/?mibextid=Nif5oz

This was our first time here, and I came with my partner. To be honest, we were pretty disappointed with both the food and the service. The waitress didn't seem too friendly, and the whole vibe of the place felt like it catered to an older crowd, which was evident from the stares we got when we walked in. The entrance was tiny, and there was no clear indication of whether we should wait to be seated or just find a table ourselves. We stood around feeling awkward until a staff member finally showed us to our table. We got at first was bread and butter, which is awesome! The problem was that the bread was served cold, so the butter wouldn't even melt. Despite most people hanging out at the bar, we were asked only once if we wanted our drinks refilled. We did get asked a second time, however it was when our meal was finished. When I asked about meaty menu options, the response was, "It's Italian, everything's meaty." As for the food, I ordered a combination plate. The meatballs were good, but the ravioli was oddly huge and didn't taste quite right. The worst part was the lasagna, which had these crunchy bits as if it was overcooked and way too much ricotta cheese. All in all, it was a pretty disappointing experience, especially considering there are better and more affordable options in town.

Awesome food & atmosphere. Everything is delicious- you won't go hungry. Worth the drive across town (Clovis to Fresno)

Food was amazing! Quiet and relaxing. The flavors where flavoring. The steak, pizza and calzone where everything. The service was amazing proactive but alllowed us to enjoy dinner.

I'm sad to leave this review, but I referred my friend and her husband to Ovidios, they had dinner there last night. They said the service was good. The food was good, but she happened to use the ladies restroom and said it was so dirty that it made them. Wonder what the kitchen look like!! Love your restaurant and would hate because of lack of cleanliness in the ladies restroom for you to lose business. Please respond to your findings. It was Sunday night.

Great food, kind service and owner! Ovidio's catered our event and it was overall just an incredible experience!

Came here for dinner with a friend. She got there first, and when I arrived later, server did not give me a menu. Ambiance was nice and food was good. I had the eggplant parm and my friend had the cannelloni. Portions were average sized for the price. We liked the tiramisu and pistachio ice cream. Spumoni was just ok. Large parking area.

Had a really yummy lunch today! Although I must say I was a little upset it took a while (1/2 hour) before we were even offered a drink or even a menu even after employees acknowledged our presence "saying someone will be right with you"... I realize they were having a big party (baby shower) but still no excuse to have to wait 1/2 hour without even getting offered a menu or a drink. Finally the bartender showed up and I was delighted to finally get service as she says hello to us, as a gentleman walks in the door and sits at a table behind us and she immediately asks him what he wants to drink, takes his drink order and walks out from the behind the bar to bring him a drink (as we've been sitting there ignored for a 1/2 hour prior to that person even walking in), THAT made me a little upset to say the least. Anyhow... I got over it (after we finally got service), she was super sweet & the food we ordered was super yummy... I ordered a glass of Talbot Chardonnay to compliment my Shrimp Scampi Alla Franco, which came with choice of soup or salad, I chose the salad. Hubby ordered the Pasta Alfredo & our friend ordered the Chicken Piccata as well as the dinner salad. Food came out beautiful and we all enjoyed it. If you're looking for some yummy Italian food I totally recommend this place. I will come back to try more of their delicious food... and hopeful next time it wont take as long as it did today to be properly acknowledged.

Oh my gosh ! Don't get me started with this Italian Restaurant ! The best service I've had , All the staff is nice and helpful , They are all on it ! Quick seating , Quick with serving and taking orders , they always get my order right ! The Alfredo tortellini & side salad ugh so so good! This is my fav restaurant !! On top of that they're also always on top with drinks once they see you're low they are quick to fill it back up ! Definitely recommend .

We have been patrons of Ovideos on a regular basis since the 1980's. The quality and service has never varied. This week we ate there 4 times, tonight we will do take out. Why? Everything is fresh and home made. The entire wait staff, which includes the owners are always on top of their game. The pizza's are the best in town. The soups are homemade, the lasagna is home made. The sauces are incredible... everything tastes like it came out of mama's kitchen. We cannot imagine our lives without the owners and their family and the staff in it. If you haven't eaten there you have missed out on a sumptuous part of life. The Boghosian's Nicholas and Nancy

We went to a dinner of 12 last week and dined on the patio. Wow. Outstanding service and the food was fantastic. I had the combo dinner, 2 meatballs, 2 ravioli, a square of lasagna served with past and marinara sauce. came with soup/salad, I had salad and it was plenty. Served with bread and butter. Server was great and attentive. hold onto your hat. My selection was $22 that is not a misprint $22. We plan to return soon and bring friends. Best Italian food I have ever had in Fresno.

Amazing food! My Italian family comes here for there traditional family reunion meetings and the staff is very attentive to us and never lets us run out of bread or water. One of the best services Ive had in awhile.

Delicious food and ambience is like I'm with family every single time and service top notch

Food was good steak was over cooked but the rest of the meal was as good as. The first glass of wine we ordered was no good was old and the bottle had to be opened over a week if not longer opened the second glass was a Paso cab and it was great. Service was great. The atmosphere was ok small family setting.

Tremendous veal, fresh vegetables and house made sauces. Delicious on all counts. Great service.

Food was great, I am gluten intolerant and I had options; service was excellent as well as friendly; the atmosphere was quiet, beautiful experience..

We have rented out the restaurant for different parties throughout the years. We always had great service until this last time. Cassey was absolutely horrible. We will never do business with Ovidio's again. She was extremely rude from the get go. The food was great but the service was not. Cassey was walking throughout the party, rolling her eyes. She made a comment about one of our guests, "Oh he's definitely been to the bar!" when he in fact was just dancing and having a good time. Cassey should not work with the public if she's going to treat people poorly.