Traditional Italian and "Old forge" style food. You've seen Italian restaurants like this in the movies(Like goodfellas) and the food made your mouth water..The food is even better in person than it looks on the big screen. This is the kind of food we have all learned to expect from Northeast PA's own "Little Italy"-Old Forge, PA. read more

Oh.Em.Freakin'.Goodness!!! This place is Uh-MAY-ZING! I was in town on business and came here on my last night in PA. After complaining to some colleagues about how I couldn't wait to get back to Chicago to eat, Café Rinaldi was suggested. Boy am I glad we listened! The wine was good, our server Tracy was the best, the food was delicious and the portions were beyond huge! We were stuffed and our plates looked like we hadn't put a dent in them. My only regret was that since we were staying in a hotel and checking out the next morning, I couldn't take my leftovers. There was enough food left for at least 3 more servings. This will be my first stop next time I'm in town! read more

If your mind can't grasp that there can be other kinds of pizza besides New York Style, then don't come to Old Forge. Old Forge Pizza is a style of pizza all its own. It is rectanglar, although it isn't sicilian. The crust is very crispy and the cheese is shredded American. It's a very good pizza. If the marinara sauce wasn't so plain, I'd give this place 5 stars. It tastes like they buy it in large cans instead of make it in the kitchen. Also the parking lot can be a hassle as it is too small for the building. And you will definitely want to call ahead if your party is 3 or more or on weekends. read more

Wow. This was one of the worst meals I have ever had. Everything was wrong from start to finish. We literally asked for any kind of red wine and ended up with white. My dinner got lost in space after being sent back because it was wrong and was sent back to us literally the same with more gross sauce over the top . And when we complained the response was to automatically add a tip to our bill so they didn't get stiffed. No apologies. Never. Again. read more

We had a great time here! Place was packed and there was a 45 minute wait for our party of 5 (so be sure to reserve in advance), but we were able to sit at the bar and order some food instead, so we weren't too upset. The bartenders were so friendly and there were a ton of locals. Pretty cool to see the guys coming in and getting "the usual". Casual atmosphere, but there was everything from men in business suits to kids. The bartenders Joey and Vic (?) found us a new favorite red wine and were very accommodating and friendly. Great experience! read more

I love this restaurant AND it's staff. The food is consistently amazing. From pizza to their well know risotto, it's alllllll good!

I had just finished up at the local recording studio down the road, and I was dying for some good Italian food. Being in Old Forge, I figured I could find something decent nearby. I've tried Ravello's, as well as another spot nearby, but that pizza is way overrated. Both the studio owner Tom, as well as the engineer Wiggy, told me about Rinaldi's and said they had the best risotto anywhere. It was around 3 pm, so when I drove up to the restaurant, it appeared as though the place was closed. The parking lot was empty, but there was a guy shoveling snow out front. I figured I'd at least give it a shot, so I rolled down the window and asked him if they were open. 'sorry, but we don't open til 4' was his reply. Oh, man, I was really hoping to get some of that risotto I heard about! Since I was heading back to VA, I knew I wasnt going to be able to double back. After some small talk, the guy said that he might be able to help, and told me to pull down into the lot. As it turned out, I was speaking with Russell Rinaldi- one of the owners! He turned out to be a very friendly and engaging fellow, and agreed to get the chef to fire up the stoves. After asking me what I wanted, he headed inside to put in my order: one white risotto with chicken and mushrooms, and one red risotto with sausage. Well, lemme tell you, these two dishes were the best I've had in ages. The portions were enormous, the food was freshly prepared and incredibly delicious. It all came with a nice salad, which had a tasty house dressing, as well as some of that fantastic bread that NEPA is known for. The sausage was spicy, and generously proportioned. The white risotto featured plenty of fresh mushrooms and tender chunks of white meat chicken. I wound up sharing it with three people, and still had a ton left over for the trip back home. Side note: While waiting for the food to come out, I noticed they had a cookbook on display, which was written by Russ' Dad, Bob Rinaldi. The $15 asking price seemed a bit steep, but after reading the chapter on Russell Buffalino (he used to live near my in-laws in Kingston), I figured I'd give it a try. This is more than a book of wonderful recipes, though. Chock full of well told stories about his days as a bookie, and his interactions with some notorious figures, I'd say it's well worth the money. In summary, I would highly recommend Rinaldi's for dinner. I can't wait to get back up to Old Forge so that I can delve deeper into their menu! read more

Food, amazing as always. Service, one star. Hostess was fantastic, but our waitress, not so much. She took our order then disappeared for 15 minutes. A busgirl came over and said they couldn't find her, but were out of the soup my husband ordered. No biggie, ordered a salad instead. Five minutes later, entrees are served by another runner, before our salads and appetizer. Runner states he can't find our waitress either and do we still want our salads? Long story short, salads appeared right after entrees, requested more bread twice, never came, canceled appetizers and no follow up or offers for refills. I love the food but we will stick to take-out. read more

Always a great place to get a fantastic meal!! I would definitely recommend the Chicken Rinaldi and the Chicken Calabrese. Very large portions that you can have for another meal. Hats off to Russ and his dedication to his business !! read more

You can never go wrong coming here. We order takeout and dine in once or twice a month at least. The risotto is fantastic. I prefer white with spinach or broccoli. The eggplant Parmesan is usually what my boyfriend orders. It's always fabulous. We also love the "old forge style" pizza here (If you're not a local and aren't familiar with the term-- it's worth a try). My one star deduction is based on two things: 1.) the decor/ambience needs major updating. 2.) when we order takeout in large groups, it's not uncommon for us to return home missing an app or entree. It's a long drive back to pick up forgotten items. I must say though, that the staff will usually throw in a dessert or extra of something to compensate so it softens the blow and shows they care! We will be back soon. read more

Rinaldi's is, in my opinion, the best overall restaurant in Old Forge. The menu isn't extensive, but EVERYTHING they prepare is excellent. Portion's are large to massive, ambiance is relaxing, service is always friendly, and the prices are more than reasonable. Get the risotto (I prefer the white with spinach), it's the best I've ever had. Also, you can't go wrong with their pizza, it's the last thing I expect to get at Rinaldi's, but it rivals most other pizza places in Old Forge as well. read more

Disappointed. Over cooked pasta. Undercooked fish. Long wait for entree for no discernible reason. With all the restaurants in the area, I don't think I will return On a positive note, our servers were very nice. Engaged and pleasant. read more

Went here with my parents for dinner on a Saturday night. We made reservations at 3:00 PM for a table for four to be seated at 7:00 PM. We were seated immediately upon arrival. Ambiance of the restaurant was very nice. It was a dimmer lit dining area, and we weren't close enough to the table next to us to hear their conversation. My parents both got veal with a Caesar Salad as an appetizer. My wife ordered a side Caesar Salad as an appetizer which was a really good size. For her entree she ordered a half white pizza, which came with broccoli. The crust was crispy and the cheese and broccoli toppings were melted together perfectly. It worked out to about six slices, of which she only ate half, so she'll definitely have enough for lunch or dinner another day. Very satisfied with the portion size on this. I ordered the 'Roasted Red Pepper Gnocchi' and it was outstanding. The red pepper taste was infused in to the gnocchi, and the spicy sausage bits were cut up very small and dispersed throughout. There was spinach mixed it as well. It all sat in a light sauce. I was blown away by this; easily one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. I ate about 2/3 of it so I still had some for lunch the next day. My meal came with a soup or salad, so I ordered the capitelli soup which came in a darker broth, with two small, delicious meatballs and about six capitelli pieces. the soup was excellent. Our server also brought us bread when we sat down which was good. My wife and I both ordered diet sodas, and our drinks were frequently refilled throughout the night. They also boxed up what was left of our meals for us. I would absolutely return here and was thrilled with our first visit! read more

I think I would ask for white risotto as my last meal. This is a very friendly and welcoming place to have dinner. The owner is very down to earth, and the staff is attentive. read more

What a great restaurant. I am from New York City and love Italian food. I discovered Cafe Rinaldi by chance and was pleasantly surprised. The food tastes like you are back in Italy. The pasta is outstanding particularly the homemade ravioli and manicotti. My favorite is the eggplant parmigiana with a hefty side of pasta. The restaurant is always filled with locals who all seem to know each other. I particularly enjoy sitting at the bar for my dinner which in typically on a Monday where the bartender Joe handles a busy crowd with a smile read more

The best risotto in town!! The white is better than the red. The pizza is OK it's a little bit crunchy for my taste I like a softer dough . Place is crowded on the weekends best to hit it up during the week read more

Had dinner last night with friends. I ordered linguine with the red clam sauce, I was not impressed. Way too much sauce, little pasta not many claims. Sauce tasted like it was burning in the pan. service was good in. read more

First time there. My salad consisted of white tasteless lettuce and a wierd gelatinous house dressing. Had to add salt and pepper for any true flavor. Main entree was red pepper gnochi with hot sausage. The meal came out COLD. There was about a tablespoon of crumbled sausage in it and NO SAUCE.People I was sitting with were noticed it!! A bit of warm water lined the bottom of my bowl. Enough said. Salut !!!!! read more

Really enjoyed my dinner here. Best risotto ever! I always get the white with shrimp or chicken and broccoli or spinach. The appetizer portion is enough for an entrée. We sat at a nice big comfortable around booth in the dining room area. The service was great And staff was very kind. I wish they had salmon on the menu. read more

Cafe Rinaldi - Pizza Near Me - Old Forge, Pennsylvania

What a disappointment. I went with my fiance and my daughter and we were completely disgusted. They say they are Italian well all I can say is no your not. I had more Italian flavor in McDonalds cheesesticks than there was in the frozen cheese ravioli with no flavor sauce and the tasteless meatball. Then the doublecrust broccoli white pizza lol a joke it tasted like moth balls with greasy burnt crust. my pinkie has more Italian flavor than the 5 items I ordered. And if you want hospitality stay away the so called waitress was colder than my daughter's cheese ravioli. Pathetic attempt at claiming they are an Italian restaurant. thumbs down read more

Not a fan. Risotto was blah and the eggplant parm was soggy.

We always meet here for girls night out. The lemondrop martini was great. But what we look forward to is the risotto. We always order the white risotto. We special order it to come with sausage, mushrooms and red peppers (a tip from someone sitting at the bar). We usually are only able to eat a third of it. The meal comes with soup or salad and bread for the table, read more

I can't really say anything that AJ L. didn't already say in his review. Deanna is an exceptional server. We ordered a pitcher of Moretti and it rang up at such a high price that she was kind enough to notify us - we promptly changed our selection. Cafe Rinaldi is known for its risotto, and for good reason. I typically order the white risotto with either broccoli or spinach. Prices range from $10-15,50, depending on what you order, and this is a real bargain - I always get three meals out of one serving. The vodka sauce & fresh basil pizza is really wonderful, but isn't always available - I was told to make sure Pat's working. For salads, the creamy balsamic dressing is excellent. Pitcher of beer, bread, six slices of pizza, one soup, one salad, two enormous bowls of risotto, and some entertainment thrown in... $44. read more

I have never been asked to leave a restaurant because "there are people waiting and we are backed up" before in my life. We had reservations for 6, got our food around 6:40, finished eating around 7:10, and were asked to leave around 7:20 while I was still drinking a full martini. They also asked us if they could wrap our pizza twice while two of us were still actively eating it. The pizza was okay at best but there are better NEPA pizza places to go to with better service. read more

I'm typically a huge fan of Cafe Rinaldi, but we had a horrible experience last night & if I could, I'd give it 1/2 a star. We had reservations, but still had to wait 20 min for our table -- if that's where it ended I would have been fine with that. An hour after we ordered we were just getting our soup/salads after we had to ask where they were bc tables around us had theirs & they were seated well AFTER us. There were multiple gnats flying around our table. Two of which landed & died in my martini. Our meals took another 30 min after our salads & my risotto was mediocre at best. Dinner for four took a total of 2.5 hours which was ridiculous. It'll be a long while before I venture back here bc the staff didn't seem to care. read more

Great surprise place ! While parking the car my wife was interviewing the patrons coming out and they gave rave reviews. The bar reminds me of the '70s (specifically when Jimmy beats Billy Batts in Goodfellas ) with Sinatra piped in over head. The waitress was kind and patient as we told her this was our first time at the restaurant. She said since this is the first time "one of you must get the risotto !" I did and was great just as the parking lot patrons stated. Wife had a simple ziti with house meat sauce and was fantastic, as was was the Raspberry lemon Martini! Parking lot is tight and the place isn't pretty from the outside but it definitely is where the locals eat! Definitely give it a try if you want a nice simple old school Italian meal. read more

Had a fantastic dinner with 16 co-workers on a Tuesday night. Everyone enjoyed the food and the service was outstanding. Can't wait to return on my own and give it another go! read more

I used to come here all the time when I still lived in PA. Now I dream of their white risotto and Chicken Marsala. Their food is just unbeatable! Rinaldi is, by far, the best Italian I've ever had. read more

Got this as a recommendation from our hotel staff, and we're glad we followed it. Cafe Rinaldi is family owned, and we're always looking for the local, no chain places. Though we had no reservations on a Friday night, we got right in. (However, groups that came in at 6:30ish and later had 30-45 minute wait times.) Our waitress was so overworked, but she made us feel like she had time for us. The seafood-stuffed mushrooms were good and so was the chicken Florentine soup (just add your own salt and pepper). The pasta e fagioli soup was average. As entree, hubby had sausage risotto, and he said it was very good. But if you want that, don't order any appetizer and don't plan on dessert: the portion is ginormous! I had the roasted red pepper gnocchi, and it was fantastic: perfectly cooked, slightly spicy red sauce with spinach and little chunks of sausage. Really good. read more

Although the food was great, this service brings this from a 4 star for food to a 1 star - which says it all with how the service was. Walking in your welcomed by a rude older women who seems to not want you there. She constantly gave us rude looks ad acted as if our presence there was a burden on her. Wont go back, just not worth the dirty looks and uncomfortableness. read more

Best food in a food town of Old Forge. Love the Red with extra cheese and the sofrito in wine is outstanding ... best around since Mac's Café back in the day. If you are from the area you will know. The family is great and can't tell you enough about this place so good give it a try in beautiful down town Old Forge - The Pizza capital of the World. My loves the risotto and always plenty to bring home for the next day, ( as always on all the food) Good job Bobby and Russell and the rest of family and employees. Much Love and Happy Holidays !! read more

Traditional Italian food that is at $10 to $15 a plate. I have never had a bad meal here and is one of my favorite place to eat. Chicken calabrese and white risotto w/ broccoli are some of our favorites. At this posting there are 13 other reviews and one that gave a 2 star rating from Texas that couldn't be more wrong. Sounds like someone who eats way to much Mexican food , Blah risotto and soggy eggplant that is laughable. read more

Excellent food and atmosphere. Gnocchi with vodka sauce was amazing. Would recommend this place to anyone looking for a good meal in a nice environment. Food is packed and wrapped for left overs. read more

Cafe Rinaldi - Gnocchi with vodka sauce - Pizza Near Me - Old Forge, Pennsylvania

I absolutely LOVE Cafe Rinaldi's broccoli risotto..... It is so smooth and creamy. I try making and tweaking my recipe at home but I still miss the mark even after all that stirring...oh well??? My partner is a huge fan of the sofrito. That is something I will NEVER EVER make in my kitchen...LOL! So when he gets that craving...guess where we are headed. I also like that after a hard day at work, I can call for take out. I prefer to go to family-owned restaurants rather than chains. read more

Went here for a business dinner. The interior atmosphere is a bit old and worn. However the food was excellent. I ordered the chicken risotto in white sauce they offered to add spinach or mushrooms to the dish for me. Portions are massive 1 risotto dinner is enough to feed 2 or 3 people. My associate said that the clam sauce was some of the freshest he's had in a while. Service was really good and attentive. read more

Excellent Service! Waitress was extremely friendly, bus boy was always around clearing off table, drinks were flowing....very very good service! Food was excellent! Great variety of Italian and other food. The linguini carbonara was delicious! I also heard the white risotto and veal parm was excellent! Price was very reasonable! read more

In a town full of Italian restaurants, this is the only one we ever frequent. The Vodka Sauce is amazing, the Chicken Parm melts in your mouth. The place is always busy, so the majority of the time we opt for take out. Portions are generous, we always have lunch for the next day! read more

Consistent-the appetizer size risotto is great- the drinks Great cosmos done right-pizza wonderful friendly staff mostly : so many regulars have many places on Old Forge but go Here-The pastas all good- Maybe light on the shrimp servings- whatever Delicious and comfortable read more

Delicious white pizza and very good risotto. Casual environment, but lively.

Good food. Good service. Nice, relaxed atmosphere. Huge portions. Both my wife and I had enough food leftover for another complete meal the next day. Only complaints were the boring beer options and the bruschetta appetizer wasn't really bruschetta. It was basically garlic bread with a piece of tomato and cheese on it. All in all will definitely go back. The best of the Old Forge restaurants by a mile. read more