They were very nice and I liked the food! There was quite the crowd with the 4th Ave street fair but they kept everything running smoothly and I had a great time. Good pizza and drinks! read more

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Finally tried Caruso's! I've passed by it on 4th so many times and always been curious about this Italian spot. The interior has brown walls and murals that really give it that classic Italian restaurant vibe. I thought it was great that they have a wheelchair lift next to the stairs at the entrance. The restaurant is divided into separate rooms, which adds to the authentic feel. There was more seating than I thought there would be. I ordered the linguini Alfredo and it was pretty good. They also bring garlic bread to the table, which went great with the pasta. To drink, I had the watermelon lemonade and it was super refreshing, especially for a hot Arizona day. The staff was friendly and our waitress did a great job checking on us and offering recommendations to order when we asked. I'd definitely come back again, especially to try their pizza next time. read more

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Caruso's used to be my family's go-to for years. I had so many good memories of this place from when I was growing up/a young adult. However, the quality has gone so downhill in the last few years, which is disappointing. Same place but something has definitely changed at some point. read more

We came here because of a Sweet Deal coupon I bought. This place has very charming decor with hand painted murals on the walls. It doesn't appear to have been updated at all tho, so it feels like a step back in time! Haha The server we had was great, talked to us a little about the menu & was accomodating to our likes/dislikes. Food itself, unfortunately, we thought was very under whelming. Lacks in flavor & my sauce was quite watery. I also had the cannoli for dessert & I must say it was quite tasty! Needles to say, we probably won't rush back. read more

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My Wife and I hadn't been back to Caruso's for a while. We decided to try it again. Our server was top notch, he answered all of our questions and made sure we were taken care of. In my opinion, the food was just Ok. I ordered the ravioli with Alfredo and pesto. My Wife had the penne pasta with meat sauce and a meatball. Both were eh, nothing that said omg we have to come back. Again our Server was fantastic, I just think for $30 a person there are other choices here in town where the ambience, the food, and the overall experience is just a little bit better. read more

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We've been here 3-4 times over the last few years and it's always alright. The restaurant is very well themed with a restored neon sign lighting up 4th Ave. They only have 1 appetizer option and still offer bread with your meal. Food can take a while here and during our visit in August the place was very warm which made the wait rough. After a few visits, we can confidently say that anything that is over baked will be better than something just placed on a plate. The chicken parmesan was a disappointment because it was just a plain chicken breast with no seasoning or coating. read more

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What can I say about locally owned amazing restaurant! I literally grew up going here, and before me was my grandparents and parents! It's been a family favorite my whole life!! Now that I do not live in Tucson it's one of the places I go to every time I'm in town! The ambiance is great nice dim lighting makes for a little romance, of your with a bigger party the back room is lit up more! And let's not forget their back patio! It's lovely. When you walk in your greeted by amazing people they are always so happy! No matter how busy they are, and let me tell you they get PACKED LONG WAITS ON THE WEEKENDS! But so worth the wait! The pizzas are amazing they are huge. They're antipasto one of my favorites for sure a must, the spaghetti and lasagna, those are all my favorites for sure but everything on the menu is great. I would definitely recommend Carusos for anyone who loves Italian food! read more

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So I've been a little bit of a snob about the food here. I hadn't had it in years, because of a couple of just ok experiences from a long time ago. A friend of mine told me the food inspector Pima county said it was cleanest kitchen ever. You get a lot of food it's really tasty. I tried the carbonara and it was excellent and I took some home. The lasagna was amazing and the salad was really nice. I'm gonna keep coming back because the food is really good and it's a little bit of old Tucson, with all the changes downtown and on 4th Avenue, of the corporate people moving in and building all these high rises it's nice to have a little old school. I'm gonna keep coming back! read more

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An awesome Tucson original! Located in a very cool and eclectic part of downtown so be warned-parking is a little challenge but you'll have a great time enjoying all the little shops and storefronts if you have to park a bit away. It is well worth the walk and after their delicious authentic Italian dishes you may appreciate that walk back to your vehicle. I've been several times but today I had a new dish and was well pleased. I had the linguini with clams in white mushroom sauce and it was incredible. My friend who had never been had the Caruso special which includes 3 sample dishes and was well impressed. Serving time was average but our server was very friendly and attentive. I can't wait to go back! read more

Caruso's - Caruso Special with Cheese Raviolis - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We've been going to Carusos for over 20 years, so it is disheartening that we have been so disappointed with our recent experiences the last few visits, we kept thinking that maybe we were just visiting on an "off" night. But, it appears to be a pattern - and there has been a noticeable decline in food quality, taste and portion size. At our most recent visit, the lasagna was ok, no noticeable meat in the servings, and the serving size was like a 2 inch square spread across on a plate. Definitely not worth the price, and the guests in our party who ordered lasagna left hungry! The complimentary bread was dried out and appeared quite stale. No one finished their servings The pasta carbonara was cold, and it was brought out way before any of the other guests at our table received their food (like 20 mins). It was super soupy, green and definitely didn't taste right, I couldn't eat it - it was nasty. The other dinners were plain, small and nothing special - unfortunately we won't be going back to carusos. read more

Have been eating here since the early 70's. Almost always get the lasagna which has gone downhill over the years. It also keeps shrinking. Back in the day it was the size of a small loaf of bread and now it's about a quarter of that. Last night I ordered it and it came out looking like it had been dropped on the floor before it was plated. When I started trying to eat it I dug out three meatballs. I complained to our waitress and she said let me talk to the manager. Instead of the manager coming to our table the waitress came back and said no that's just the way we make it. I sent it back and just skipped the main course. The antipasto was still very good but I know longer be craving lasagna @Cursos. read more

Celebrating my son birthday and he picked Carusos Italian Restaurant on 434 North 4th Avenue in Tuscon. 520-624-5765. Caruso's is a very cute restaurant makes you feel at home. Our waitress Brianna, was so nice , it was my first time ordering a pizza and she was very helpful with our choices in pizza toppings and suggested certain items. She was on top of things that we making sure we had everything we needed, from refills to bread. Wonderful hospitality read more

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Iconic Tucson restaurant on Fourth Ave. , it's a Tucson institution. Cute interior and outdoor patio. The service was friendly and attentive, but the food needed a lot of help. I ordered the stuffed shells and eggplant parmesan, but got stuffed shells with chicken parmesan. The antipasto salad was bland and a bit boring, the sauce had a strange flavor, but the shells and chicken were cooked well. The gelato was pretty much frozen iced cream, and I wish I hadn't even bothered with that at all. I've been twice now, and I'm not in a hurry to make a trip back. read more

Caruso's - Single antipasto salad - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Love sitting outside. Saturdays are best. Food is good. It's been an institution for generations. University part of town. read more

Soooo Disappointing. Caruso's pasta dishes have really gone down hill! Not at all like it used to be in the 80's! The Chicken Alfredo was a plate of slop with a flavorless, rubbery chicken breast buried in the mix. Is it that hard to grilled and season a breast and plate it nicely atop of the fettuccine? Lasagna was dry and the Chicken Parm did not come with a side of pasta? Come on now? We spent over $300 for family of 5 and left with the declaration of never returning. Sad. Best thing on our table was the Antipasta Salad. read more

Caruso's is in line with old style Italian cuisine. It's nothing fancy but has solid dishes. The portions are large so there are leftovers. Service was good and the building is charming. Prices are in line with any Italian spot. read more

Our group met here for dinner on a weeknight. We'd made reservations and got in right on time. Our table was set up in one of the front rooms and wasn't noisy at all. They didn't have many options for gluten free or low carb, so that was a drawback. I chose the chicken and eggplant parmesan combo with garlic sauce instead of marinara and a house salad. My husband opted for the chicken parmesan, which was another one of the few low carb options. If you are able to eat pasta and pizza, there are many yummy sounding entrees available. Most everyone liked what they'd ordered. I thought the flavor of mine was outstanding; my husband was less wowed with his. The house salad was a unique combination of items and was enjoyable, but not sure it was worth the extra $8. Service was very friendly, although it took quite awhile for our food to arrive at the table. Our server kept our water glasses filled and brought us more garlic bread while we waited for our food. Our entrees, with no sides, were about $25 each which seems on the expensive side. read more

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Caruso's has been a long time staple in Tucson. It had been awhile since our last visit. The atmosphere is the same. The staff were very knowledgeable, and accommodating with wine and food selections. We enjoyed the single antipasto to start. It served two perfectly. Our entries were spaghetti carbonara and chicken tetrazzini. Both were generous proportions. Dessert was a to go of limoncello cake. Everything was delicious. Time to reschedule our next visit. Street parking always a problem. read more

I learned about this restaurant from binge watching some old episodes of AZ Highways TV, where they claimed Caruso's is the oldest Italian restaurant in the state! It's been around forever and is highly esteemed, so after dozens of visits to 4th ave I finally gave it a try. What I like: Atmosphere is off the charts good. The entrance is the most beautiful property on the block, and when you walk in it feels like you're waltzing through a series of living rooms in a lavish historic home. Servers are classy and conversational. It feels a bit pricey, but the portions are gigantic--everyone will take home leftovers. I could eat their sauce for days. What needs work: The food across the board does not live up to the reputation. The antipasti was a snooze--the salami tasted bland and cheap, and the little cheese wedges were pretty mediocre as well. You could order a charcuterie board at virtually any cocktail bar in town and it would surpass this low-effort appetizer. I ordered the Lasagne Duo with a half serving of lasagna and a half serving of Chicken Parmigiana. It was drowning in that delicious sauce, but I'd be lying if I said the lasagna weren't being carried by a heaping of shaved Parmesan toasted under the broiler. The chicken parmesan was unfortunately not breaded like most places would do it, but the cutlet, although underseasoned, was cooked to tender perfection. There are some pizzas on the menu as well, but it's really basic with only a handful of standard topping options. And unlike most fancy Italian places, it's not even attempting to go for traditional Neapolitan. I am entirely uninterested. Overall, Caruso's is respectable Italian cuisine and something everyone who loves Arizona should give a chance to. But around this price range I think you can probably find some better Italian food that pays more attention to detail and doesn't coast so much on its history and reputation. read more

Caruso's - Lasagna + Chicken Parmigiana - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We arrived on a Friday evening about 5:30 and were seated immediately. This is a big change I noticed because in years past, a Friday night wait for a table could be an hour or more. We chose to sit in the back patio, which was ok...table and chairs were located on dirt so shoes got a bit dusty. Brianna was our server and immediately took our drink order, delivery was moments later. We ordered dinner (there were four of us), all of us wanted the salad. Carusos has one of the best salads and dressing I've had in a long while. For those who don't like their salad "swimming" in dressing...you will not agree with me! Their Italian dressing is so good, tangy, and rich with herbs. The lettuce itself and salad overall was fresh. The salads were delivered quickly. Your table gets one basket of their garlic bread, which was room temp and a bit dry. I dunked mine in the sauce of my spaghetti. Once done with salads, we had a long wait for our main dishes to arrive. About 15, close to 20 minutes passed before dinner was delivered. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, wanted to stick with the basics and my memory of their sauce. Ok, truth be told, it's probably been about five to six years since we've eaten here, so memory could be a bit lapse. I truly wasn't impressed...I found it to lack that tangy, tomato and meaty flavor (Caruso Sauce). The noodles were a bit over cooked by a few minutes so although they weren't mushy, they were on the way past that al dente taste of pasta. The meatballs were not as I remember...they were good size but basically had no flavor. This I remembered from past because I used to love their meatballs! I'd get a couple of extra sometimes to just take them home for a meatball sandwich the next day. Overall, my meal was ok. Wife ordered the stuffed shells. She asked about just getting the shells...the menu has them listed with either eggplant or chicken. Was told, "yes, you can order just them, they aren't on the menu." Ok, so that was good but...we were charged $21, which is the cost for the shells and eggplant, so basically we paid for something we didn't get. The shells themselves were mediocre at best. The pasta shell was a bit hard and when she went to cut them in half, all of the cheese squirted out. Something off about this dish unfortunately. Friends ordered Chicken Alfredo, which was reported to be ok. The sauce was a bit gloppy and lacked a strong cheese flavor. Other friend had spaghetti with Caruso Sauce and agreed with me about the lack of overall luster. Overall our meal was a 3 star event. I think the nostalgia of the restaurant is what brought us here but we decided that quality wise, probably won't return. I do also want to say that there were other full tables around us and people seemed to be happy with their meals so this review is our opinion only! Take it for what it is. Sorry...no photos this time around. read more

The atmosphere in the patio was very charming. Unfortunately that is where the pleasant experience ended. The service was incredibly slow and the food was frankly terrible. We were a group of 10, the only ones who thought the food was ok were those who ordered pizza. The prices were average. I would definitely not recommend this restaurant! read more

While visiting Tucson, we stumbled upon this Italian restaurant. The food is amazing and the service was excellent. A great Italian restaurant to visit read more

I really wanted to rate Caruso's higher -- it's a Tucson elder statesman in the restaurant scene! -- but unfortunately the service was kind of a mess and the food, while good, wasn't strong enough to pull it up to four stars. The food is traditional Italian comfort food, served in heaping portions. On our visit, I got linguine with shrimp in the mushroom garlic sauce, while my companion got the "Half and Half" of meat ravioli and spaghetti in a meat marinara sauce. We thought it was really fun that you could do a combo like that! Both meals were solid pasta dishes that hit the spot, and the sauces were truly excellent with rich flavors, but neither felt like something that we'd go back specifically to Caruso's to get again. I did appreciate the generous servings, which were enough to provide leftovers that reheated beautifully as lunches later in the week. As I said, while I have no criticisms of the food, the service was very slow and our interactions with staff felt uncomfortable. We were seated quickly, but then waited a long time for a server to come by to bring water, and then waited even longer for her to come back for our food order. We would unsuccessfully try to catch her eye when she was moving through the room, and on the few-and-far-between visits to our table she seemed irritated. I always want to give someone slack (who knows what's happening behind the scenes either in the restaurant or in their life), but the server's apparent annoyance with us was to the point that I felt like an imposition asking for a water refill, and actually apologized twice for doing so. The garlic bread is delicious (and I do love garlic bread!), and there's always a place in my heart for a giant pile of pasta, but I honestly think that the next time I'm feeling an urge for Italian and am in the vicinity of Caruso's, I'll get takeout from them. read more

Caruso's - Half and Half (meat ravioli and spaghetti with meat sauce) and garlic bread - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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We tried to request reservations.. they don't do that. Showed up 530, was asked to wait 1 hour for a text to be seated. At 7 pm I walked back in to a deserted front desk.. oh, your next was the response. Sad beginning. Ordered chicken tetrazzini. Clear white sauce with over toasted chicken was what I was served. More peas than anything .. id compare it to Stoffers frozen meal. Asked for cheese .. was told it was on the table in a shaker. Ick. What happened to shaved parm in your plate. Small cost that means alot to the presentation. It was not good. Left it on plate noone asked if I liked my meal or cared. I'd say this has gone downhill drastically. I was looking forward to that meal and now ill just have memories of a great past dining experience ... hire new cooks that care. read more

We have been eating here for 40 years when Sal, then Whitey were always present (they no longer are). It was always delicious. The last few times I detected subtle flavor changes. I've always loved the salads and antipasto plates because the salad dressing was so flavorful. I've tried many times to duplicate it unsuccessfully. While it seemed to be lacking in flavor recently, I attributed it to wet lettuce. Last night the dressing was completely different--no flavor, no zest--bland. I'm so disappointed that what used to be the highlight for me Is no longer there. Please go back to the original recipe! The ambiance is always enjoyable here and my server was delightful. read more

While attending the 4th Avenue Street Fair, I spotted Caruso's, and was immediately reminded of how great they used to be. So I decided it would be worth $35 for a medium 2-topping pizza to go. I couldn't have been more wrong. I could see bits and pieces of one topping, but there wasn't no evidence of the other; either visibly or in taste. I did carry the pizza on foot for a couple blocks, so everything had slid off some of the crust, but where did it go? No evidence anywhere in the box or on the remaining slices. I had been careful to keep the box horizontal. Anyway, what remained was a flavorless skimpy pizza with no redeeming qualities. At the Street Fair, I had purchased some oddities, such as edible dried crickets and homemade dog treats. My $35 would have been better spent on either of those items, because at least they had flavor. read more

This place was pretty much like I remember from my childhood. Old school, great service, and solid food. I'd say the Italian salad was fantastic. I had the lasagne as my entree and it was good! read more

Lovely place. Stop by for dinner and it was amazing. My salad was excellent and the pasta combo with raviolis was good as well. This place is very large inside and outside. It looks like a place where families can go and enjoy not only a good meal but themselves. Especially the outdoor area. Service was good as well. If you are in the area, stop by and try one of their delicious dishes. You won't be disappointed. Happy meals! read more

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Went in at around 730pm on a Friday evening, we got seated right away! We were seated near the front entrance, so I didn't get to see all of the restaurant, but it was very cozy and smelled amazing of course! Unfortunately the service was slow! The food took awhile to come out, the server had to assure us a couple times the food was on the way out. Also, I did have to ask a couple extra times for refills on my drink. We had the chicken Alfredo, and my husband absolutely loved it! Then we had the antipasto salad and the three meatballs with meat sauce from the ala carte menu, also extremely good. All in all, it is a great date night location, with delicious food and smells!! read more

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Caruso's has always been one of the best spots to go to for authentic Italian food. Lately it's been lacking good taste. The seafood pasta really missed the mark--scallops and shrimp lacked seasoning, and the pasta seemed straight from the pot, watery and bland. A little more attention to flavor and texture would make a big difference. read more

My first time here. Maybe lunchtime isn't a good time to go? Ravioli tasted frozen and was just thrown on a plate with watery marinara. I actually like the ravioli at Olive Garden better. That's saying something! My daughter got cheese manicotti and that was really good. Very dissapointed I thought this was fresh authentic Italian but tasted like something I can make at home. read more

Caruso's - Very bland - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Love this Tucson classic, I have not been here in so long but came to celebrate a birthday. The lasagna was so delicious! we were sat outside in the patio area and the weather was perfect. They kept our cake in the refrigerator and brought it out with a knife and plates when we were ready, our server was top notch. We did not wait too long for anything and our beverages never went low. read more

First -time diner and not impressed. A quaint 4th generation family restaurant that lost something in the recipes in the later years. Date: July 9 Invoice # 250709-04-1 . 1 Chicken Tetrazzini made with penne pasta..okay and a sauce that tasted like it came out of a jar. 1 side of 2 sausages with sauce. The 2 sausages tasted like they had been BOILED in water the actual flavor was lost NO FLAVOR at all. The red sauce WAS good, but didn't "save" the meal. Such a shame. I get it that recipes change (corners cut) through the years . Wish I had dined here in the early years. I HAVE been to Italy 12 times, I DO KNOW authentic Italian and this was NOT IT !! read more

We have been coming here for years, about once a year. What I like about it is that it is very consistent. Pizza was delicious and eggplant Parmesan yummy. The waitress was super friendly and attentive. Always clean, this place is our go to Italian place when we come to this side of town read more

Caruso's - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I'll start by saying the food is great. The veal parm special used tender, tasty veal. I had the seafood pasta in red sauce, and they were generous with the seafood, which wasn't overcooked. However, it took an hour from the time we were seated until the food came to the table. When it finally did, my meal was served a full 10 minutes before my partner's dish was served. That's totally unacceptable. As far as atmosphere, if you've ever been to a South Jersey Italian restaurant that's trying to be like a South Philly Italian restaurant, then you'll instantly relate to the ambiance and atmosphere at Caruso's. It is a one-and-done for me. read more

A Tucson legendary Italian Restaurant. The best Lasagna ever. Homemade pasta. Special homemade marinara sauce rich with meat. Reasonable prices. Highly recommend read more

This place was so good last year I had to come back again this year. The service was amazing and the food was even better. The mood in here is beautiful. Reminds me of an old mob movie. Five stars highly recommended. read more

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Food was good, service was good, but the the food prices are way over blown. We had a 19" pepperoni pizza and 1 order of spaghetti with meatballs with 4 drinks. After tip it was $96. I have been going to Carusos for over 50 years and now I must say good bye. read more

Food is nothing special. Ambiance is fine but dated. Service was good. Had the antipasto, basically a salad with two slices of meat, four or five very small pieces of cheese, piece of artichoke, one black olive and one green olive. Basically the only difference with my wife's salad was one piece of meat and the artichoke piece plus $5. The main entree was a chicken and eggplant caked in cheese. Cheese has a taste that isn't good and the texture was kind of gritty and chewy. Cheesecake was half frozen and crust had no flavor. Update my wife and I discussed our meals a couple of times in the days after and decided that it was overpriced with nothing justifying the price charged or even half the price. Won't be returning read more

It was good, but nothing extra special. Comes with one free basket of bread per table. Seater was very friendly and personable, seating us in her favorite spot where you can people watch from inside. The server left lots to be desired. She almoat seemed annoyed by anything we said. Ordered the chicken parm (small, moist chicken was a plus, but no breading, covered in mushrooms under the cheese, and not much cheese) with stuffed shells (not quite stuffed and only 2). Also had the shrimp scampi. Shrimp were large and clean. Lemony scampi sauce and a small side of pasta. Italian wedding soup was good, but again not the greatest. read more

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