This was our first visit to Dough Forge Italian Restaurant. Our first impression walking in was…read morethat it felt very much like a small, mom-and-pop neighborhood restaurant, which is perfectly fine when the food and overall atmosphere make up for it. Unfortunately, the prices felt quite high for the experience.
For example, the Bolognese was around $25, Chicken Parmigiana around $26, and the pizzas were about $28. Since we were already there, we decided to stay and give it a try. I will say that our waiter was nice, and the woman who seated us was also very pleasant.
The tables had paper tablecloths, and after ordering a carbonara and Chicken Parmigiana, we waited about 30 minutes for our food. During that time, there was nothing to snack on. We expected some bread or something similar, as many Italian restaurants offer while you wait.
When the food finally arrived, we were given a piece of focaccia. Unfortunately, it was very bland, and mine had a noticeable burnt taste.
The actual meals were not bad, but they also weren't anything particularly special. The flavors were fine, but honestly, the dishes tasted like something I could make at home rather than something worth paying $25-$26 for at a restaurant. Both dishes also came with very thin spaghetti. Some people may prefer that, but I personally prefer a more traditional, thicker pasta.
The atmosphere was another disappointment. There really wasn't much ambience, and at one point someone sat right next to our table while waiting for a pizza to-go, which added to the feeling that this was more of a casual takeout spot than an Italian dining experience.
Overall, I don't think the food is bad, but the prices don't match the food, ingredients, presentation, or atmosphere in my opinion. At these prices, I would expect better-quality ingredients,