Caruso's is my favorite restaurant in town. It was my parent's favorite restaurant in town too! It has been a staple of Tucson for like 100+ years and is a 4th generation restaurant. It is absolutely THE BEST Italian restaurant in the state of Arizona - if not the entire United States. They make ALL their sauces and pastas by hand. Trust me, I have seen their freezers and they are authentically handmade from recipes developed by Sal's grandfather. They even use some of the same POTS AND PANS! LOL The COVID pandemic has been so hard on all the restaurants in Tucson. Our city would not be the same without Caruso's so we have purchased several LARGE gift certificates. We occasionally order food to go, but we are content to leave the funds there just to help them during this tough time. Caruso's is especially wonderful for birthday celebrations and meeting friends. This seems a lifetime ago, but I organized a large event of about 30 people for the All Souls Procession. Now keep in mind that this is always one of their BUSIEST days. I booked months in advance and had it set up. We were given a large separate room and the staff was FLAWLESS with the orders. As ALWAYS, the food was EXQUISITE! They have an amazing wine list too! I am sure that we were a little noisy because everyone was having such a great time and we were all in costume and makeup. At the end, we called the main owner and manager, Sal, into the room and everyone clapped and cheered him on for such a spectacular event. You absolutely CANNOT go wrong with Caruso's! The BEST Italian restaurant EVER! read more

Caruso's - This was at an event that I led with a large group. The staff and owner couldn't have been nicer! - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Everything was excellent - service, lasagna (my wife's meal) spaghetti and meatballs (mine) and a gluten free noodle option for my daughter! The sauce was really good! Salads were fresh and delicious. We sat outside and the ambience was perfect. We'll definitely be back. read more

I am a food snob, but can't stand pretentiousness. Carusos offers delicious classic Italian food. No gimmicks, no fusion. I hope to enjoy their food for decades to come. read more

The sauce had a weird taste. It overwhelmed any of the other tastes the food might have had. Not at all like an East Coast gravy (sauce). Portions were good and came out hot. I specifically informed the waiter about a food allergy. He brought out one dish that one of the sauces could have been contaminated with that allergen. At least he told us about it. Why would they even serve it? The proper way to have handled this would have been to not have brought that dish out and had another one made with a different sauce. Overall, a dated tourist attraction. Would not recommend if you want good Italian Food. Go to Vivace in the foothills or Mama Louisa's for great Italian food. read more

The food here is average but it makes up by having large portions. Service is friendly, quick, and relatively attentive. Old school Italian restaurant decor with comfortable seating. Biggest gripe is the quality of food does not reflect the high prices. read more

Ate here for a family member's birthday and it was a great pick! The Alfredo Sauce was thicker than I'm used to, but great! The back patio was so nice! read more

If you heard of Carusos or know it from the good old days , it will disappoint you to return. The good was edible at best and was not good old home cooking like before. Very sad to have spent my only meal out in this place as I travelled through Tucson. The staff was exceptional however. read more

While I still love Caruso's, the food has definitely gone down hill. The chicken parm was delicious. The chicken Alfredo was not good at all. The chicken was rubbery and not cooked properly. I will still go back due to the nostalgia. read more

Caruso's - Chicken parm and chicken alfredo - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I was so excited for a ladies night due to my birthday I was craving Italian, haven't been at Caruso's in a long time so I was really looking forward to it; we had 2 waiters, a young boy was in training and the veteran lady just overlooking at everything; he was very nice, she wasnt ‍. My order was messed up, is fine, I'm patient, I was just very hungry, so ended up eating more bread than food, by the time my food arrived I wasn't hungry anymore, didn't even received a free dessert? Half price of my dish? (Like they usually do at restaurants for their mistakes). Anyways the food wasn't that good. You can probably have a better experience overall at a taco truck. read more

Caruso's - Asked for White sauce... - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Italian food is one of those things that I like, whether it's traditional red sauce and checkered tablecloths, or a delicate fritto misto with fried lemons. Caruso's is most definitely the former, an old school place that your parents or grandparents would be very comfortable in. When I find myself craving the basics, this is the type of place that makes me happy. I had cannelloni made with a spinach pasta, and it was perfectly al dente, and stuffed with just the right amount of mozzarella/ricotta mixture and topped with a similarly right amount of melted cheese and sauce. My wife was in the mood for something lighter, and found the Italian Salad to be just right. The only quibble I had was that I found the minestrone to be a bit thin, but that could easily be a matter of taste. Overall, Caruso's would be the kind of place I'd be a semi-regular at, if I lived in the area, and was not just visiting. read more

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All the recipes are from the old days, all of this food made from scratch. What a treat even the ice tea is brewed. We Love the recipes and the atmosphere, both inside for lunch and in the evening in the garden. We purposely go out of our way for an opportunity to enjoy it. We buy their salad dressing by the quart and bring it home.... Yum! read more

Caruso's - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I have been going to Carusos for years and has never disappointed me. I always get salami and mushrooms pizza

Great atmosphere, awesome food and noteworthy service. The eggplant parmigiana was well done the tomato sauce had small chunks of tomato very tasty. Same as the chicken parmigiana. The meat lasagna was the second best dish the meat and cheese portions were perfect. The meat was spiced very well. Only had two bites and then the "Dad do you want this leftovers" but I probably would order this dish next time. The star of the table was definitely the caruso special in the white garlic mushroom sauce. That was an explosion of flavor on the pallet. There was a never ending basket of buttery garlic bread toasted nicely. Drink glasses didn't stay empty long. Great value for the location, parking a bit tricky but that is expected on 4th Ave. I say it's worth the trip down town. read more

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Hours were not updated. Went on a Friday night and it was closed, even though hours said it was open. Disappointed.

It was just ok . They messed up on my order the first time so I had to wait extra long and when my food came out everyone else was finished . read more

Caruso's is a long standing classic in Tucson, having been around for many generations of ownership. Although their menu is not as robust as it used to be, what they do have is super yummy. I recommend the classic spaghetti with meatballs, the antipasto with the tastiest dressing in the West and the garlic bread, of course. Add either a beer or a glass of wine and you are set. Additional delicious dishes are their ravioli with meat sauce and the cheese manicotti. Sitting in the large back patio always adds charm and character to the meal, especially during the 8 cooler months of the year in town. read more

Food is amazing such a great place A+! But prices are ridiculous about 2X what they should be...I mean come on $20 for pasta Figure it out and don't charge so much. Good luck. It's Tucson not NY City. read more

It was our first time there. Sad to say, I will never return. The lasagna had no cheese filling. It was mush. Slightly over cooked. The pasta with seafood disgusting. Over cooked and bland. Its bagged seafood and the shrimp still had poop in it. Service was ok. Very dated. Homeless people everywhere outside begging for money. Parking a nightmare and costly if you can find a free spot. Not my cup of tea so to speak. read more

As a native Tucsonan, Caruso's has been our go to for delicious food. Dinner tonight was the exception. The service was poor - we had to ask for silverware after being seated, the server was nowhere to be seen for periods of time, the sodas flat. The antipasto salad dressing had zero flavor, the garbanzos were tough. When our dinner finally arrived the food temp was lukewarm, pasta was mushy, the chicken rubbery and covered in watery, bland red sauce. Jarred sauce at home would have tasted better. We won't be coming back. read more

What a nice surprise in some great Italian when we ended up on 4th and hungry. I was reminded of some of the Italian eateries back east that are a throwback in time. I got the chicken parm with a BIG side salad and the Hubs got the "seafood delight" with red sauce. The red sauce was outstanding! The garlic bread was great as well. It is interesting to read some of the not so great reviews as we found the food to be wonderful. The service was lacking, but I got the feeling it was due to them being short staffed. Our server was not seen often but the bussers made up for that by refilling water and clearing plates! read more

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It was ok. Nothing incredibly special, but the patio area is really cute and for an early date night it's good enough!

Wonderful choice to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday! I'm surprised that the reviews were mediocre. This place was absolutely satisfying in every way possible. The wait time was accurate (no reservation unless a party of 6 or more). The service was good. But the food... I ordered the lasagna and chicken parmigiana while my boyfriend ordered Caruso's special (spaghetti, meatballs, and choice of meat or cheese ravioli). Honestly, the chicken parmigiana was just okay, but what really knocked my socks off was the lasagna. The real interesting thing is that my boyfriend actually liked it. Lasagna has always been my favorite and he has always hated it. He tried it and kept eating it! The red sauce was so flavorful and the meat was seasoned very well. The cheese on top was nice and broiled. He enjoyed his dish too. I imagine it was just as delicious but I was too busy eating my own dish. We got two dinner entrees and a half bottle of wine for a bit more than $40. Wow. The prices are very reasonable for what you get. read more

Caruso's - Chicken parmigiana and lasagna mmmm - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We walked in close to closing time but our waiter/host was more than happy to take us in! It was like we were his family, it's such a positive experience after a fun evening! Food and dessert was remarkable!! read more

Do not order from here. They don't look at the order and what you get is not what you ordered. Seriously, how hard is it to screw up a pizza? Caruso's will do it. Did you say mushrooms on that one. No. No mushrooms. Two orders in a row. The kitchen can't be BOTHERED to PRODUCE what you ORDER. But hey, $70 order. INCOMPETENT TO THE END. Wait and see what happens when these unapologetic jerks try to answer that they're not responsible for FULFILLING THE ORDER. read more

It's been a couple years. Things have changed! I used to love this place. Not so happy about it these days. But, seems like the pandemic screwed just about everything up. Garlic bread still provided with your meals w/o charge, so that's good. But, they're super skimpy with it. The top of the line meals no longer come with a antipasto salad. The price of the meals are the same, but the same salad is sold a la cart at $11. No bueno! The food portion was still the same and tasted great. The combinations of the meals have changed though. Service was above mediocre. read more

Great and authentic Italian food. Homemade pasta is great with the Alfredo and scallops and shrimp but there wasn't enough seafood. Definitely needs more for the price. Raviolis are exceptional. Meat sauce is great. Meatballs are a bit tough but still good. Shells are outstanding. read more

I have heard good things about this place. My parents you to go hear back in the day when they came into town for SALOC (yeah its been a while). I have avoided it because of the parking everywhere downtown being a pain. But I decided to suck it up on Saturday for lunch. I only had to pack 2 blocks away. I got there about about a half hour after they opened, so it was not too crowded. Our weather jumped from winter (yeah right) to summer, so I decided to sit on the patio. It was very nicely shaded and the slight breeze was great and I was seated quickly. Luckily a menu was dropped off when I was seated, because it was over 10 minutes before I was even able to communicate with anyone. There was a large party on the patio, but a "I'll be there in a few minutes" would have been civil. Of course after the wait, the waitress asked if she could take my drink order (ice tea), I gave it to her but also my lunch order because I didn't know when I would see her again. For lunch I had "The Caruso Special" a portion of spaghetti, meatballs, meat or cheese ravioli with choice of meat sauce, marinara sauce, or white garlic-mushroom sauce. I chose the meat ravioli with meat sauce for the ravioli and spaghetti. In addition, I ordered a salad. Like taking the original order, it took longer than I expected considering the restaurant was relatively empty. I spent the time checking out FB and playing Sudoku to pass the time. The food tasted great. It was just good down home food (if your mom is of Italian heritage, mine isn't). The food I would rate 4.5. But because of the service, I have to deduct a star to be 3.5. Reading other reviews, it looks like the service is a systemic and not a one off experience. As a side note, she never came back to refill my ice tea. I will probably be back, but I will make sure I have plenty of time. Maybe next time I'll go with some friends to take my mind off of the extended wait times. read more

Caruso's - The Caruso Special - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Great atmosphere and terrific food. The bread was fresh and served warm, the vinaigrette on the salad was light and tasty, the lasagne was tasty and the 2015 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon was a perfect accompaniment to the meal. read more

Caruso's - Caruso's Exterior - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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I would give the long-standing best Italian restaurant in Tucson 5 stars, but they are now charging extra for seconds on garlic bread which is ridiculous. Their prices have increased across the board, they stopped offering side of spaghetti with their entrees- I get all that (inflation/ covid), but nickel and dim-ing over bread is too much read more

Carusos is the OG of Italian food in Tucson, tucked away on 4th ave. I've always enjoyed their garlic bread and delicious garlic infused red sauce. This is a hidden gem in covid for those looking for outdoor seating! Expansive patio under old citrus and pomegranate trees will almost make you forget where you are. read more

I ordered chicken parmigiana and the first weird thing was that the it does not come with pasta. Chicken parmigiana is literally a fried chicken breast over a bed of pasta noodles. But they said I could buy a side of pasta, so I did. When I got home and opened it....the chicken breast was like pan seared but not really seared. There were mushrooms in it for some strange reason. I still decided to give it a shot and it was disgusting. I threw the whole thing away and I will never go there again. read more

Delicious authentic Italian food! The marinara sauce is to die for! The portions are big enough to split or take home for leftovers. A must visit in Tucson if you want delicious Italian food! read more

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This was an absolutely amazing experience. We had fabulous food, service and the atmosphere was wonderful. Our server, Max, was amazing! We can't wait to return. read more

Caruso's - Homemade baked ravioli - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Food is mostly just average and standard Italian dishes. Sausage on one of our pasta dishes was so dry and hard it couldn't be cut with a knife (must have been cooked once or twice before). Don't understand why this place is popular, but maybe it's the large servings (quantity over quality). The wine list is just terrible. It will cost you ~$50 per person here, and you'll get a second-rate meal. For that price, you can get first-class Italian food at places like North (in La Encantada). read more

Absolutely delicious meal! First, the order had been screwed up for delivery, but the hostess cleared it up very quickly. She also put me through to the manager who helped me avoid some allergies I have. Finally, the chicken and eggplant Sicilian style was too good to stop eating! I carved off a sizable piece, but kept going until full! And my date's shrimp and scallop alfredo was equally filling and tasty. We meant to have leftovers and both failed. Delicious downtown Italian :) read more

I have walked by this place so many times and have never bothered to stop in (honestly because I assumed it would be another bar food type restaurant on 4th). My grandparents were in town and wanted to do some souvenir shopping, next thing I know we ended up here. We were seated outside under a beautiful patio with sculptures. Jacob was a great waiter, he was personable and was able to make suggestions when asked. He was right! Everything was delicious. I ordered the chicken tetrazzini and my wife ordered the clam pasta. If you haven't stopped by, definitely do so! read more

Came to Tucson from Phoenix, to take care of a customer. Decided to stay for a late lunch early dinner. So glad we did! We had the Anti-pasta Salad to start, was so good and fresh. Hubby had the Lasagna al Forna, loved it. I had the Spinach and Cheese Cannoli, was absolutely amazing! The restaurant is darling, gives you the feeling of being in someone's home. Last but not least, our waitress was so friendly, attentive and had great suggestions. Will absolutely recommend to anyone going to Tucson wanting a fabulous, not over priced great tasting dinner. read more

Their backyard patio is lovely. And the servers are very nice. However, the food is average to below average in quality. Their antipasto salad for four people costs $24. It looks pretty on the big platter they serve it on, but it doesn't have even $3.00 worth of ingredients on it. It's a joke. The $33 large pizza also looks nice, but the quality is average and the taste and flavor is below average. Enjoy being outside in their pretty outdoor area, but don't expect too much of the food. With a 20% tip, salad, pizza, one cola, and one bottle of $20 poor quality wine cost us $110. read more

I have tried several different foods from Carusos and they BY FAR, have better tasting food then TWO COUSINS..

Temperature of food was tepid, though the scallops and shrimp were cooked nicely. Pizza dough was doughy but toppings were good enough. Baked dishes seemed more appealing. read more