Great selection of pizza - quick and friendly service. Do not order a beer on special. Very over-priced. Pizza was great, and full of flavor. read more

Went in for dinner last night and loved it. Our server Ben was great, the food was delicious and the atmosphere was warm and fancy. The goat cheese salad I had was in special but I hope to be able to get it again and again, so good. Thanks for the great birthday dinner! read more

We were pleased with everything here! Was a little surprised that an Italian restaraunt didnt have pasta on the menu. But the pizza was good....i had the Cardinale and was pleasantly surprised that they use fresh mushrooms and not canned like a lot of places do. The service was incredible! We loved our waiter! He was very personable and funny. Will definately be back! read more

This was possibly the worst dining experience I ever had. I went here with my 2 sisters and mother for my birthday dinner on a Sat night and it was terrible from the minute we walked in the door. We sat on the 2nd level and it was so loud we had to yell at each other to talk. The service was almost non-existant. We waited 20 minutes for our drinks and they forgot my mom's iced tea so we asked the busboy for that. We got no bread but every table around us had bread. When we finally got our apps, one was wrong and two of us did not get their soup. Eventually, the soups showed up and within 4 minutes the entrees arrived while we were still eating their soups. Mom's entree was inedible, burnt eggplant. She sent it back. My sister ordered a pizza and the entire bottom was charred black. My sister's 2nd drink took 40 minutes to arrive. My entree was good. It was shrimp with sun dried tomato risoto. During dinner, my mom was hit in the head by accident with a tray...not bumped, hit. Then again in the shoulder without recognition or an apology. Once we finished eating and asked for the check, it took about 15-20 minutes to get the check. The table next to us seemed to be having such a miserable time, they got their food to go. Maybe, it was an off night and they were understaffed but we will never dine here again. On a side note, I used to waitress at an Outback Steakhouse along with many other restaurants, so I am not uptight about my food and service. It takes a lot to ruin my restaurant experience but this place somehow hit every button...ugh. read more

If you have a beer on your 'specials' list that's $17 dollars--at a place like this, not even fine dining--you should absolutely list the price... OR instruct your server to notify guests that are interested that the price is higher than most beverages. Extremely annoyed that we ordered several of these ridiculously priced beers without being informed that they were so costly. This place is a ripoff. We will not be returning. read more

Great food! 3 for $30 is an excellent Tuesday night deal. Totally enjoyable experience!

My husband is a fabulous cook and pretty fussy when eating out yet our meal was so good on Saturday March 17th I felt compelled to write a review. All 4 of our party had at least 1 special on the menu and enjoyed each and every one. The crab soup was zesty with the frutte del mare one of the best I have ever tasted. My husband and friend had the delicious tilapia topped with lump crab and commented on the very generous portions. The short ribs are always terrific with homemade chocolate orange gelato to finish the night. Everyone associated with our service was so warm & personable...a truly welcoming and enjoyable night. read more

Fool me once, shame on you . . . How do you say "disaster" in Italian? We had high anticipation for a celebration (our anniversary and my son's 22nd birthday) so we called ahead in advance for table reservations. We arrived promptly for our reservation for 5 . . . . after standing around for 45 minutes we left. Do not fool yourself with the glitzy appearance of the restaurant. This is probably our worst restaurant experience ever - we have received better service in third world countries. Fool me twice, shame on me. read more

We went last evening with a party of 6 for a 7:00 reservation. The table we were to be seated at did not vacate until 7:40; thankfully we were seated at an alternate table on the first floor by 7:10. Overbooking seemed to be a constant battle through the evening with little to no lobby or space to wait. The team coould definitely improve on scheduling and a space to wait. The service by our waitress Noelle was above par once we were seated - attentive, quick, thorough, etc. We ordered a series of homemade appetizers, salads and pizzas to share family style and could not have been more pleased. We had the Zia Rosa and Arancini and the Via Ottagio salad to start. The Zia Rosa and Ottagio salad were delicious, the Arancini lacked any real punch and was more rice than pancetta. We enjoyed the Bellapigna(eggplant), Giuseppe E Charlene(cabbage - the table favorite), Bisnonno Nicola (eggplant sliced), Mama Francesca (hot sausage and broccoli rabe), and Nonna Guisepina (sausage and sun dried tomatoes). All were delicious, but the cabbage stole the show. For desert we savored delicious gelatto and sorbettos made on site; pistacchio, toblerone, hazelnut, cherry, white chocolate chunk, etc. and delicious Italian coffees. Greta ambience and definitely mobbed and trendy. Be prepared to wait, but you will be glad you did. BYOB. read more

Actually heading there in about 10 minutes. I have been here several times with a positive experience. The pizza's are tasty and the gelato is a great ending. The service has always been fine when we ate at Ariano. I only felt a little rushed one time when it was very busy. Definitely make a reservation and BYOB. read more

S.C. We are frequent Media diners. Ariano is a lovely restaurant, but suffers from inconsistency in food quality. We had exactly the same appetizer (a pizza bowl with clams in white sauce) within a two-week period recently. Once is was to die for and the next time it was so salty and poorly prepared that it was inedible. I want this place to become what it has the potential to be. The pizza crust made in a brick oven is fabulous, but again, sometimes the toppings are unbelievable, but other times they are nondescript. What is the problem? Do they have too much turnover in chefs? The salads and gelato, I will say, have been consistently good. The chocolate and coffee gelatos are amazing - they should have them always available. Entrees again have been hit or miss. Last week I had a grouper special that was mushy and the accompanying vegetables (spinach and broccoli) were completely blah and tasted like they came straight out of a frozen vegetable bag. Get is together, please! And also the beautiful upstairs space needs some kind of sound dampening. More than once, we have not goneto Ariano because we can't deal with the noise, even when it isn't crowded. The outdoor space on the street is great. read more

If I could give this place 0 stars I would have. I came in for a drink after work and there were three women at the bar, so it was not busy. I looked at the menu that I had to get myself and selected my drink order. Waited for about 10 minutes and no one even said, "Hi how are you, what do you want to drink" or even looked over. There were two guys in black working the bar. One was working the bar at least that I saw and the other was just standing there. Both very inexperienced by the lack of customer service I received. At the end of my ten minutes, the three women asked if they could cash out separately because they were the only customers there. I have never felt so invisible in my entire life. Won't be back here with so many other choices for libations in Media. read more

Overall disappointment. The venue is beautiful, really nice place. Sat upstairs at an oddly placed table but still fine. The service was fine. Attentive but not oot which is fine. The food needs help, badly and the prices as well. A basic salad tossed with croutons and no tomato or anything was $8.50. I ordered lobster risotto balls for dinner. It was served with a odd tomato sauce on top, mashed potatoes and broccoli. The risotto balls were warm at best. Just not very flavorful. My husband ordered a fliet mignon dish and they were tiny pieces of fliet already cut up. Odd. The pinot grigio ordered was I suppose the house at $8 glass and I couldn't drink it. Terrible. Dessert was offered and none (including gelato) were under $7.50. Coffee was good! This is not fellini caliber food, quality however they are commanding high price point for low quality dining.I have dined ariano a few times in years and this is probably the worst quality, most expensive experience. Not going back. read more

Very disappointed today with lunch. I ordered the tomato soup and the special salad- chicken with strawberries. The chicken smelled like day old garlic breath, the lettuce was old and the dressing was sparse. I sent it back and just had the soup. Furthermore, we sat in the downstairs area and the noise level prohibited conversation. Weak iced tea finished the lukewarm experience. It was not my first time there but it will definitely be my last. Totally overrated and forgettable. read more

I want to like this place but was let down on my first trip. The pizza is very good however I wasn't happy with the other dishes. The mozzarella in the middle of the arancini was cold, and the prosciutto was rubbery. I had tricolle risotto which is filet tips served over risotto with a mushroom Demi glace. The server didn't ask how I'd like my steak prepared so I assumed it would come medium rare or close to it. Unfortunately it was extra well done. Completely ruined the steak. The risotto was good as well as the demi glace. read more

I can't think of any reason to give less than 5 stars. My friend and I arrived at 6:45 before the rest of our party of 6 arrived. I assume it was the owner (or Manager) who greeted us at the door and told us our table was all ready for us and we could be seated if we like. All 6 of us got yummy cocktails. I got a amaretto cocktail which was awesome. I also ordered a mozzarella/tomato app which was wonderful. And last I ordered a filet which was cooked perfect and was very tender. All the other meals of chicken and seafood looked wonderful too. Our waiter was extremely nice. I totally would return. Was a little noisy for a Friday night but that's the sign of a thriving restaurant in Media. read more

There really ought to be some guidelines about how to grade for service vs. food. In my view, Ariano's is being unfairly slammed for service. I think we're all so used to the formulaic service and mediocre food provided by the big chains that we consider their 'factory-trained' service as a baseline. It's not fair to compare. I've been to Ariano's four times now. Always the food has ranged very good to excellent (I've had pizza and some of the other dishes - all delicious). The service has ranged from somewhat slow to very efficient, but always friendly. I recommend Ariano's all the time. Even when we eat dinner elsewhere in Media, we often wind up stopping in for gelato after our meal. Media has lots of restaurants and there's some poaching of waiters going on. They're in constant training mode with staff. Or, so I've been told by the proprietor of one of the State Street restaurants. Hey, there's an idea, people! Why don't some of you grumpy reviewers chat with the manager and staff of the restaurants you visit?? Honestly, reading some of these reviews makes me think you should stick to the Olive Garden. I hear the bread sticks are great. read more

We recently had a baby shower at Ariano's and even though the food was good, waitress served wine without our permission. It was disappointing as we caught this probably 15-20 glasses into it. Please ensure to follow agreed package for special parties prior to offering guests everything off the bar. read more

We like this place for pizza take-out and gelato-- but Never on Monday. Must be chef's day off, and maybe the coat check person gets to play with the pizzas? Otherwise, we like this place a fair amount. It would be three stars, except for Monday. read more

Our experiences at Ariano's have been very positive. The food is delicious and very fresh. The servers are friendly and helpful. Most of their food comes with a gluten free option. Since having to go gluten free, I have not been able to find good pizza until I found Ariano's! read more

My wife and I had dinner at Ariano last night and we had a great time. The food was great, very tasty rice ball appetizer, and some awesome real Italian pizza. Finished it off with some chocolate gellato. Very good! Thank You Ariano! read more

This restaurant was better when it first opened. Now they have all but eliminated BYOB and added a highly overpriced wine list. Pizza offerings have been reduced, too. Tables are too close together, service is poor and they rush the food to turnover the tables quickly. Our group ordered dinner salads and pizzas. The salads were brought out and then within 30 seconds came the pizzas. Besides the fact that there was no room on the table for the pizzas, they would get cold as we ate our salads. They took the pizzas back to the kitchen, but by the time we finished our salads and asked for them, they were well beyond their optimum with burned crust and only lukewarm. Save your money, there are many better restaurants to be found. read more

Despite fantastic pizza, Ariano only deserves 3 stars due to the service. We did go on a Wednesday for Media's signature "dining under the stars" so a little commotion is expected. However, we first stood by our table to have it cleaned off for a solid 5 minutes before someone came over to wipe it down. Then, our waiter was not attentive and we had to wait a lot for him! We waited 10 minutes to get the check! Terrific pizza though, best pizza in media! read more

Great pizzas and appetizers! Yes it is small but a cool atmosphere! Definitely going back.

It's a shame that I have to give Ariano's only two stars as their food is really consistently good. The problem is there are are too many other issues that appear to come from a lack of caring. They seem to draw good crowds so who cares. Already well noted is how loud they are, many overpriced items especially cocktails, and a waitstaff that is very inconsistent. Arrived last night to sit outside as that is the only way to avoid the often deafening noise levels inside. Seated at table and i looked at my hand to discover someone's leftover food on it, I hadn't thoroughly inspected table. Took getting hostess forever to bring crumpled up brown paper towel. Would have been nice if were moist and came with an apology. Taken to a clean table and then discovered menus had all kinds of food stuck to them from prior table. Waitress wiped them off but I have to tell you the impression was gross and unappetizing. Waiter disappeared around end of meal for 15 minutes and never reappeared, had to get up and find another waiter. We dine out quite frequently and I can tell you the repose at better restaurants would have been an apologetic tone and possibly to have comped a drink or dessert. I notice many poor reviews here and no response from restaurant to try and improve and rectify problems, Dine at your own peril. read more

My wife and I stopped here on a recommendation from our AirBnB host. It was walking distance from our home and looked great in the pics. The entry does and ground level does not do the rest of the place justice. First floor is a bar with a few tables and was rather quiet (No surprise being a Tuesday). Upstairs however, was full of happy patrons chatting and feasting on the wonderful fare. The setting was very intimate (tables very close to each other) and it really added to the feel of an Italian dinner. We had the eggplant and the ahi tuna, apple & feta salad and scallop orzo. Nothing was even mildly mediocre. Each plate was delicious and perfect in it's own way. Service here was also very friendly and warm. We will definitely return here, especially in the summer, when part of their upstairs converts to an open veranda. read more

Awesome service, very tasty food, great presentation, fantastic waiter! We will be back!!!!

Love this place, their specialty pizzas are fantastic and their gelato is to die for. Highly recommend if you are looking for authentic Italian flavors. read more

Been here several times. Usually very good. Ordered the risotto with filet tips this time. It was not good at all. Risotto was ok at best. Filet tips were just short of raw (blue at best) with absolutely no seasoning. If you're not going to put salt and pepper on the table, at least use it in the kitchen. Seems as though it was a generic risotto with the tips and Demi just thrown on top like a school lunch line. I'm hoping this was just an off night. Service wasn't what I would call "super" either. read more

Good food, good portions. Just split something with your date.

We had the best meals last night at Ariano's! The service was also great....loved our waiter! We started with their rice balls...the best!! Then we had the eggplant dish and the seafood dish. We usually take home leftovers but it was so delish that we ate every morsel!!!! It is a great gem of a restaurant in Media! read more

Met friends here for lunch and was so impressed. Outstanding pizza and arancini and my friends were very pleased with the beer selection. Oh, and the gelato was excellent! I recommend the hazelnut. And it was all topped off by the friendly owner and and waiter Rocco. I'll definitely be going back for dinner very soon. read more

We just ordered drinks and appetizers here. We got red wine and the special, ARANCINI ALLA PALERMITANA. Much happiness ensued, and we look forward to trying out the full dinner menu. read more

Waited 30 minutes after seating before anyone took our order. Appetizer special of scallops very good. Both entrees over cooked badly but server did not check with us till 15 minutes later. Italian restaurant with no pasta dishes. This appears to be a pizza place first. read more

Excellent food, beautiful restaurant but don't go there to have a conversation. It gets very busy and extremely noisy. It was hard to hear the people sitting at my table. The food is excellent, including special attention needed for a person requiring gluten free. Highly recommend leaving room for dessert. We shared the Nutella pizza (made gluten free) and an affogato (espresso and gelato). - amazing! It's worth the noise! It is one of my favorite spots in Media, I just need to remember to go when it's not too busy. read more

Order the artichoke hearts appetizer....enough food for an entree, really. Super delicious. My brother and I were the first diners for lunch on Sunday of Labor Day weekend. Service was great! Very clean, beautiful decor..it's like a mini Figs (gourmet pizza restaurant owned by Todd English in Boston) but prettier;could do with some tailoring of the list of pizza options. Loved it and can't wait to go back for dinner. read more

Come for the taste of heaven, stay for the family feeling! When this little pizzeria/gelateria opened in Media last year, we were first attracted to the decor, came once and started coming regularly. It's cozy and casual, with a coffee bar on the first floor where you can ask for a menu or just have a cappuccino and dessert and chat with the bartender. My winter favorite is hot chocolate, made the European way -- dark, thick, and foamy. Second floor (with a little third floor platform) is really beautiful, with a ceiling mural that depicts the town of Ariano and, we were told, the members of the owner's family. Floor-to-ceiling doors open in the summer to create a terrace. I like to sit at the counter downstairs, but if we get a table, we always go upstairs: the ambiance there is unequaled. Once we sat on the "third floor," and the only problem there were these little funny plastic utensils and glasses -- apparently, someone had dropped a knife from there, so they got plastic ones for the third floor. Ariano became popular so quickly that it gets very crowded now on Friday and Saturday nights and very noisy, so I prefer to go on weekdays, when it's more peaceful. Now to the food. I was astonished to discover there what I'd been missing ever since my semester in Italy in the 90's: the true taste and texture of Italian gelato -- creamy and light, very smooth, delicate mix of flavors, always something new in the display case -- strawberry, banana, hazelnut, chocolate, and more, with a special treat when a gelato is made with fruit or berries from the owner's garden. The pizza menu is a little lengthy, but it's very imaginative, and there's something on it for every palate if you have the patience to wade through it. If not, just ask for what you want: the crust is uniquely authentic, thin and tasty. My personal favorite is Giuseppe e Charlene: cabbage and parmesan on tomato sauce -- surprising, warming, and filling, comfortable like a Russian hearth. And then there is everything else on the menu, and to some of these dishes I've become a bit addicted. In appetizers, there's Scaperotta -- a perfectly balanced asparagus risotto with little scallops. Salads are fascinating combinations of fruits, cheeses, and greens, and I keep discovering new taste buds I didn't know I had. The only thing that keeps me from always getting my favorites on the menu is the specials. I do think that soups and fish are, perhaps, Ariano's most sure bets. New England clam chowder there is the best I've ever had -- and I've lived in New England. Fish specials are a little pricy, but you get what you pay for. They are what I would call "gourmet," every time: gently coordinated flavors and sides, perfect textures, sauces sometimes so unexpeted that "breathtaking" is the only word that comes to mind -- even though I expect the unexpected from Ariano's chef. Overall, Ariano is my favorite restaurant not only to eat but just to stop by for a cup of gelato and coffee. I never feel alone when I'm there: more than one server will stop to say "Hello" even on a busy night, when they run up and down the stairs like little meteors. I'll sit and listen to the music -- sometimes Italian opera, sometimes Italian pop, on Monday nights live guitar on the second floor. There's nothing better. read more

The pizza I ordered taste excellent. They have a really large selection of pizza to choose from. However, it was very crowded and the acoustics were lacking. There is a weird echo and you had to shout to communicate.other than that it was good. I will go back for sure. read more

Love this place for pizza! It's the best Napoli style pizza I've had in the area. The interior is kind of cramped which I didn't love, but I'd go back just for that pizza. I won't stuff myself so much next time so I can try the gelato too! read more

Delightful evening at one of our fav spots. The food is good, not extraordinary, but the whole vibe is good. The staff genuinely care that you are happy. read more