Benvenuti's Ristorante

I recently dined here for the first time, and while the food itself was quite good, the overall experience left a bit to be desired—especially considering the higher price point. The menu offered a variety of appealing options, and the dishes we ordered were flavorful and well-presented. However, several service-related issues made the evening less enjoyable than it could have been. From the beginning, there seemed to be some confusion with the tables. Our orders were mixed up multiple times with the party seated next to us, resulting in us being served their dishes and vice versa. To add to that, the first glass of wine we received wasn’t the type we ordered, so we ended up waiting even longer for the correct one to arrive. While mistakes happen, the repeated mix-ups made the experience feel disorganized. We started with the calamari, which unfortunately was on the rubbery side and not as tender as we had hoped. What made things a bit more uncomfortable was the timing of service—our entrées were brought out before we had even made it halfway through the appetizer, leaving us with an overcrowded and cramped table. Since it was a first date, we had requested a more private seating area when we arrived. Despite having made reservations well in advance, the only alternative offered was a high-top table. We ended up seated at a small two-top placed in the center of the dining room, surrounded closely by other tables, which didn’t allow for any sense of intimacy or comfort. Overall, I would rate the food a generous 4 stars, as the flavors were enjoyable and the quality was evident. However, the atmosphere earns closer to a 3 due to the tight seating arrangement, lack of privacy, and service hiccups that should ideally be smoother for a restaurant in this price range. With a few improvements in service flow and seating accommodations, this could easily be a standout dining spot.

It took me way too long to enjoy a meal here. Of course we choose a super busy weekend. Homecoming for OU. What a fantastic place to have a meal. We opted to order the fresh loaf of bread and 3 entrée. We really wanted pasta. But, when we saw the ribeye offering. We knew we had to have it. Corbin was our server. And he partnered with Allie. They were a dynamic duo. We felt as if we were there only customers. We witnessed them make the rounds to all their tables. So we knew better. We felt as if we were very special guest in their dinning room and were given the best table in the house. This restaurant is perfect for any occasion. Or even a meal when you have no idea what you want. Thank you to the Chef and staff for more than a meal. An experience we will never forget.

I visited this restaurant Saturday night, and while the food itself was excellent, the experience was a bit mixed. Upon arrival, even though I had a reservation, we showed up about 15 minutes early. The hostess pointed out that we were early and would need to wait—which was fine—but the comment felt a bit unnecessary and set an odd tone for the start of the evening. The dishes were truly impressive—so flavorful that even after waiting and having to take the meal to go, it was still amazing. The kitchen clearly knows what they’re doing. Service, however, left room for improvement. Our server was friendly enough, but we ended up waiting over an hour for our food. When we mentioned that we had other plans and needed to leave soon, we were told our order had been placed after a very large party, which explained the delay. Still, it was confusing to see guests seated after us receive their meals first, and we didn’t get much of an explanation. I don’t want to assume the ticket was forgotten, but it certainly felt that way. Once we asked to have the food boxed up, the staff did take care of it quickly. But even after the check was dropped off, it took a while to actually pay because the server disappeared again. Overall, the food was outstanding, but the service timing definitely needs some attention.

We had a nice family dinner here. The food was excellent. We all got a bit too stuffed on the focaccia before the mains came. The parmesan spread on the charcuterie board is dangerously good. The outdoor area is a little loud, lots of hard surfaces with nowhere for the sound to absorb. The service was friendly and prompt.

Benvenuti's has been on my bucket list for awhile. We finally went tonight. Ella was amazing. Knowledgeable and attentive. The food was top notch. We thoroughly enjoyed everything. We sat on the patio and enjoyed the amazing spring weather while eating the most amazing dishes. A definite must if you find yourself in Norman.

We chose Benvenuti’s to celebrate our 34th wedding Anniversary. What a great choice! Our waiter (Raymond) was not only knowledgeable he made sure we had a great experience. His service and suggestions were spot on. The polaroid photo and card were an especially nice touch. This restaurant is our favorite!!

It used to be my family’s favorite restaurant, I feel the ownership has changed. Their menu has changed to the worse, service and expertise of the servers have taken a hit, table and condiments are not as clean as they should be , you are served one piece of bread for 4 people, you can taste the microwave in the food worse than Olive Garden. You are handed the check without asking for it, It’s very sad. The only authentic restaurant in Norman feels like has joined the corporate chains.

Fantastic service, food, wait staff! We went for a celebratory dinner and it was absolutely delicious. The special sour dough bread with the tomato basil spread was amazing. All of our entrees were excellent. First time there, won’t be the last!