I would have left a lower rating, but I'm a local and have been dining here for over a decade, so I'm taking all of those wonderful experiences into account. I've celebrated birthdays, my pregnancy, and many special occasions here over the years, which is why this experience was so disappointing. Tonight, my family and I came to celebrate my upcoming wedding. I made the reservation well in advance and called ahead to coordinate details because this dinner was very important to us. Unfortunately, our server, Eric, completely changed the tone of the evening. Our reservation was at 7:00 PM, but Eric did not greet our table until around 7:20. When he arrived, he immediately told us he had been sat multiple tables at once and would be taking everyone else's order before ours. He then walked away. When my mother kindly approached him to explain that this was an important wedding celebration dinner, he spent several minutes complaining about how busy and overwhelmed he was instead of addressing the issue. When he finally returned to our table, his demeanor felt tense and irritated. He even stopped his menu speech to ask what was wrong with my mom's face-she was simply shocked by his attitude thus far. We placed our drink and food orders immediately because we were already concerned about the delays. About an hour and a half after being seated, Eric came over and told us he had delayed putting our food order in because he noticed we were "still eating bread." We were shocked, as we believed the order had been placed long before that. Meanwhile, several people in our party had skipped lunch in anticipation of this dinner and were extremely hungry. As the delay continued, I spoke privately with the bartenders and explained that I was a bride-to-be trying to celebrate with family and friends, and that I was worried about how the evening was unfolding. After they spoke with Eric, he returned to the table and responded in a very curt and dismissive tone that we were "about to find out why this is such a great restaurant" before abruptly walking away. His attitude made everyone at the table visibly uncomfortable, and I was honestly mortified trying to host my guests under those circumstances. This wedding dinner meant a lot to me so I began to cry from his strange anger/attitude towards us. At that point, I requested a different server because I simply did not want another interaction with him. Thankfully, we were switched to Isaiah, who completely turned the evening around. He was kind, attentive, professional, and genuinely caring. He handled everything quickly and helped salvage what was meant to be a very special celebration. Isaiah also apologized sincerely and comped our meal, which we greatly appreciated. The food was wonderful, the atmosphere is beautiful, and every other staff member we interacted with was kind and accommodating. That's why I'm not leaving fewer stars. I truly do love this restaurant and have supported it for years. However, Eric's behavior was shockingly unprofessional and unfortunately overshadowed what should have been a joyful wedding celebration. read more

Wonderful dining experience. Excellent service, very friendly staff and authentic dishes prepared perfectly. The ambience mirrored a true Italian villa in the heart of Tuscany. Very nice. read more

We walked in without a reservation, however luckily there were two seats open at the bar which serve full menu so we decided to sit at the bar. The service was great, and the food was even better. We started off with the artichoke bites, which came out piping hot and crispy with a side of lemon garlic, aïoli sauce. I ordered the spicy vodka pasta with shrimp which came with about five pieces of jumbo shrimp and homemade pasta. The sauce was amazing. It was probably one of the best pasta dish I've had. My husband ordered the chicken pasta with cream that was recommended by the bartender. That was also delicious. They also have free bread that came with olive oil with salsa Verde in it, which was interesting. We have to ask for the free bread though. For dessert we had gelato with salt and olive oil, which was surprisingly good. Overall, we had a great experience with amazing food. I would definitely come back here for the spicy vodka pasta next time I'm in town. read more

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We chose Cucina Rustica as our upscale dining spot in Sedona, and it didn't disappoint. I'm always drawn to women-owned restaurants, and that made the experience feel even more meaningful from the start. The cocktail list immediately stood out--creative and far from ordinary. I ordered the Smokey Fashion, which leaned strong and spirit-forward. Our appetizer was a daily special featuring burrata (the creamy Italian cheese similar to mozzarella) with mushrooms, artichoke, arugula, and a flavorful sauce--beautifully done. For mains, we had to try the pasta. My friend ordered the gnocchi, and I had the artisan-style garganelli with grilled chicken, sautéed mushrooms, and green onions in a smoky chipotle cream sauce--rich, slightly spicy, and easily one of the best pasta dishes I've had this year. Service matched the quality of the food, with a knowledgeable and polished server throughout. read more

Cucina Rustica - Garganelli Don Quixote - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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Waiter was very nice and efficient. Just recommend lowering his voice to compliment the ambience. For example, heard him, even from across the large room, every time he recited menu specials. Veal piccata for hubs and cioppino for me. We shared the burrata appetizer. Burrata was a bit too runny. Hubs liked the veal but couldn't stomach texture of side, perhaps orzo? Highlight of the cioppino was the pasta. Clams were minuscule, scallops good and lobster adequate. Did enjoy the white sauce with strong notes of butter, garlic lemon, and parsley. I had a glass of recommended Chianti- delicious. We shared the cannoli for dessert. Pastry seemed to be a bit frozen. Good but not outstanding. Be aware that the restaurant charges an additional 3% surcharge. This just irks me. Be honest and increase your menu prices. Overall, overpriced, especially the cioppino, ambience underwhelming, food quality was a bit of a disappointment. Was looking forward to perfect and just okay was delivered. ****response to owner: I'm not disputing the transparency of your 3% surcharge. It just doesn't feel good. Personallly, I would rather know what I'm paying for reflected directly in your menu prices. It's of course just my opinion. I don't think I'm alone in feeling this way. read more

Terrific service, well imagined and beautifully cooked food, and a charming atmosphere. Ate there twice back in May, first alone (delightful), then with a large group (equally delightful). Getting good, fresh fish in Arizona isn't easy, but they managed it. The burrata was excellent, the wine list comprehensive (though a tad expensive), and the entrees were uniformly good. Next time I'm in Sedona, I will definitely go again! read more

Cucina Rustica - tiramisu. WOW! - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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Cucina Rustica is fancy schmancy, periodT! Located at The Collective in Sedona off State Route 179, this Italian Restaurant will take you to the streets of Italy. I have never been (but it's on my bucket list!), but I'd imagine going to an Italian restaurant in Italy would be like coming here. The ambiance is romantic, with the entire place dimly lit. On a Friday night when we stopped in for a quick dinner, there was a live musician, whom we sat next to. That was a nice touch! Service was great as we were greeted immediately upon walking in, and we were also seated right away. It was 1 hour before closing and they were not busy anymore. They have a really good selection of items on the menu. A few years ago, I came in with my sister when she was house hunting. She insisted we eat here because they have a veal dish she absolutely had to have. I can't remember which one, but it was either the Vitello Piccata or the Vitello Saltimbocca. I do remember tasting it and it was pretty damn good!! Last night, my friend and I shared the Pollo Parmigiana. They charge an extra $5 to split the plate, but you supposedly get bigger portions. We agreed, the pasta portion was very filling. It was not the absolute best we've had, but it wasn't bad, either. We also shared the Calamari, which was perfect. It was just enough to fill us up, but we didn't feel overstuffed. The prices are slightly higher than average, but worth it. Although we did not partake in any of their desserts, they do offer a good selection. Parking is available all around the shared commercial space, and they have a whole row of Tesla super chargers as well. If you're in the Sedona area, I'd recommend Cucina Rustica for a nice meal out. They even offer patio seating complete with heat lamps and a fireplace for your comfort in the cooler months. Ciao for now! read more

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Cucina Rustica absolutely lives up to the amazing reviews. I've dined at a couple of the sister restaurants before, so I knew I had to try this one and it did not disappoint. The ambiance is adorable, very Italian-inspired with classic white tablecloths and a warm, inviting atmosphere. It feels both elegant and comfortable at the same time. We started with the Sampler appetizer, which was delicious. The the feta, tasted incredibly fresh, and all of the ingredients were so flavorful and well-balanced. You can really tell they focus on quality. For my entrée, I ordered a pasta dish loaded with seafood in a white wine garlic sauce and it was to die for. The sauce was rich and perfectly seasoned, and the seafood was fresh and cooked beautifully. Every bite was fantastic. The service was great, attentive. I highly recommend making a reservation because this place is very popular and books up quickly for good reason! Overall, a wonderful dining experience, and I would absolutely come back. read more

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We made a reservation here for our Anniversary dinner and loved it! They set up our table with rose petals. We had the Eggplant Parmesan, Gnocchi Siciliana, Ginger Margarita, Vanilla Gelato, and Pear Bundino - we loved everything! We even loved the complimentary bread and olive oil (their olive oil was unique, maybe sage or cilantro). Nice, friendly staff and good service. We will be recommending them for celebratory and romantic dinners. read more

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4 months late review but since I am back in Sedona, good reminder to finally share my experience. I have been dining at Dahl and Deluca for 10 years, and have always had great experience. Brought many friends here and shared positive feedback with everyone I know. In May 2025 my coworker and I came to Sedona for girls hiking trip. Since I always stay at the Canyon Mesa Country Club, which is 0.3 miles from Cucina Rustica, I decided to try it. Given it's a sister restaurant had to be good, right? Sad to say but our dinner was a disaster. We had 6:30pm reservations and left close to 9pm very frustrated. The waiter (very condescending man with glasses) seemed to be the only waiter in the main dining room. The place was pretty busy but his busgirl was amazing and always helpful. We had nice bottle of wine and appetizer then entrees. We did get the appetizer then 75 minutes pause. When I asked the waiter about our entrees, I got attitude. He said it is coming. We had to pour the wine ourselves the entire dinner. Finally when I saw couples which came after us and having their entrees I asked again what happened to our dinners? I once again got cold shoulder like I was too demanding. At that time I asked for the manager, who was very nice and understanding. He was going to check on our dinners... We had to wait another 20 minutes until our food came, at which point we were so frustrated and not really hungry. The waiter dropped off our check and said "this is with very generous 50% off", like he was doing us a favor, yet totally ruined our night and instead of admitting he forgot to put our orders in, we got an attitude. In an establishment where you drop $300 on quality dinner, you shouldn't keep asking about your food, pour your own wine and get attitude from staff. It was very disappointing experience and not up to par with Chef's Lisa Dahl vision of her restaurants, I am sure. read more

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Ok truly this place was amazing! The food was absolutely delicious. Appetizer, filet, dessert. No complaints. Wonderful chefs! Our waiter was also fantastic! I forget his name but he was super nice and detailed with explaining the menu and giving recommendations. The atmosphere was beautiful, we dined inside and it's such a cool spot to go to. 4 stars because the hostess and a female waitress weren't as warm and welcoming as our waiter. They seemed annoyed, didn't smile, and probably just didn't want to be there dealing with people. But it definitely felt awkward upon entering. After that though the rest of the experience was stellar!!! read more

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Wow, in all my travels I have never come across a waiter as callous as our waiter, Jonas. I have never left a sit down restaurant without tipping. We did tonight. My wife ordered a Lemon Drop martini. When it came out in a martini glass, it was less than half full (pictured). We asked Jonas about it being half a martini and his reply was, it just looks like it because of our glasses. He said it couldn't be small because they measure everything out.. NOPE. We looked around at surrounding tables and saw martinis filled near to the brim. It wasn't necessarily about the martini, it was about the lack of any interest in resolving a complaint that a diner raised. We had already ordered an appetizer and salad, so we actually discussed bolting without ordering dinner. However, the bruschetta and salad were very good so we decided to order dinner anyway.. my wife just wanted the pollette de carne meatballs (excellent) and I ordered Pollo Parmigiana which was borderline awful. Additionally, in small print on the bottom of the menu, it states they add 3% on to the bill for "operational expenses" rather than correct their menu, they add a surcharge. Nothing to do with credit card use.. they add it to all bills, credit card or not. In my mind, if they can add it to the printing of the menu, couldn't they be less deceptive and adjust their menu prices? Would we go back? No. There are too many places with great food that train employees to care about their customers. Further, the whole 3% adder handling tells me that management and/or owners have little desire to be forward and honest. read more

Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

We were attracted by the warm and welcome entrance. The interior decoration is very cozy and yet with lots of wonderful elements to make you feel comfortable. All the food we had were all very delicious. I have to recommend the appetizer of the day. The mozzarella cheese as the centerpiece of the appetizer coupling with the arugula salad and Italian tapenade specials is the best! read more

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Amazing restaurant!! Incredible atmosphere great service and outstanding food!! Some of the best flavors o have had in a long time!! Perfect size portions and the tiramisu was off the charts!! A must stop! read more

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This is hands down one of the wife and I's favorite places to do a nice dinner in Sedona. The atmosphere is upscale, a little more elegant than a lot of restaurants, and perfect for a bit more of a romantic or "date night" setting. Sitting outside is the best in the summer months when you get a cool night. The food and service is always fantastic, and some of their pasta dishes are actually better than ones I've tried in different parts of Italy. Per the recommendation of other Yelpers, and our waiter, I tried the Garganelli Don Quixote, which was fantastic! The chicken was very tender and the adobo cream sauce was to die for. We will always be come back to Cucina Rustica! read more

Cucina Rustica - Garganelli Don Quixote - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

Had a great experience here. We came in Saturday around 6:30 without a reservation and sat at the bar. The restaurant has a warm Tuscan vibe. Richie and Isiah were both very friendly and provided great service. Richie recommended the Don Quixote and it was really flavorful with a nice kick--you couldn't put your fork down after the first bite. The tiramisu is also a must. Overall, a really enjoyable experience. read more

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I love all of Chef Lisa Dahl's restaurant as someone who spends a lot of time in Sedona, but Cucina Rustica may be my favorite. We came here for Christmas dinner and the food, the service and the vibe was truly immaculate! I love that we could choose from a prix fix curated menu (which I did) as well as a la carte options which other members of our party preferred. The elevated and warm ambiance and amazing food transported us straight to Italy. I loved the burrata, ghnocchi and eggplant parmesean I tried and the tiramisu was to die for! Highly reccomend! read more

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We went here for my birthday and it was incredible. The service & the decor were top-notch. The food was out fast, incredibly fresh, and delicious. Portion sizes were small though. read more

Sunset dinner outdoors with romantic lighting, fireplaces and fountain. Steady service and tasty choices with a solid wine list read more

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Went here after golfing in Sedona. Our server, Eric, was phenomenal and walked us through the menu and specials since it was our first time there. The food was good, no complaints there and the ambiance inside was cute, very old school Italian decor. read more

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Amazing food, every single thing we tried was excellent. We had Don Quixote pasta w chicken (chicken btw perfect), bomba dessert and creme brulee. Music was also amazing, Chris Botti on sax. If you like jazz ambiance, this is the place. read more

Ambiance was PERFECT! Such a nice place for us to enjoy our wedding anniversary. Portion size & look of each of the dishes were great. We wanted to try the ribeye special, but chose the chicken parmigiana & lasagna; also a Caesar salad w/a Bomba gelato dessert & key lime pie. All was flavorful our server & his assistant provided us w/timely & professional service. read more

When you are in Sedona, this is a must! We celebrated my husband's birthday dinner here. From the moment you walk in you feel welcomed. This place not only has amazing cocktails, appetizers, main course and desert but they go the extra mile. Our server was amazing. The mussels appetizer was incredible, we both had a seafood special and the flavors were just unreal. The crème brûlée - out of this world. The sea salt gelato, find space because you have to try it. Do not miss out on an incredible experience. read more

Best calamari we have ever had! We have tried a lot, all over the world. That appetizer is outstanding!Mike is a truly great server. He is fun, knowledgeable and attentive. He made our night even better. read more

Overrated, overpriced, not worth the long wait and terrible service on a holiday. I know I'll be skewered for going against the grain here when it comes to a local favorite, however I tell it like it is. The chef here owns several of the popular restaurants in town and reviews for her dishes speak so highly of everything. I thought for sure this would be a great experience to celebrate a loved one. First of all they were running about 45 minutes behind schedule when we showed up five minutes before our reservation time. Then they took forever even bringing us a menu, and even longer returning to take our orders. The restaurant was completely booked but it should not have taken them as long as they did to serve our dinners. In all we were at the restaurant for over 3 hours from arrival to departure. Nobody was happy by the time we got out of there. I dont recall the food being memorable. It was just average Italian food. read more

My wife and I had a fab experience, excellent table on the patio, great ambiance, quality service, wonderful food, 4 for 4. Our friends were right! Thanks for a memorable night read more

I came in here to get a latte and a dessert. When I walked in, the bartender abruptly took my friend's water bottle and put it away, without asking him, which I thought was exceptionally disrespectful and inconsiderate. I wanted to order an oatmilk latte and the bartender gave me an angry look and then told me that my latte would "take a minute" as if the order was too complicated for him. He then told me that they only have cows milk and not oat milk. He seemed irritated that we were just there for dessert and coffee. I did not appreciate his attitude and apparently Yelp removed my prior review of this establishment so I'm leaving this one. I will never eat here again, and I was appalled by the bartender's attitude. read more

Ambiance is a nice setting with a Tuscany vibe. The service was excellent. We had the special Caprice appetizer which was delicious. My eggplant dish was average. My wife had the seafood special which was expensive. It was tasty but the portion was surprisingly small and some bread with this dish would have been nice for the broth. A nice place but pricey. read more

3rd stop on our "Summer of Lisa Dahl" vacation. We have been here before and it never disappoints. Had the Greca salad (amazing as all her salads are), wife had the Angelica (shrimp scampi)-her favorite dish, and I had the Melanzane Parmigian (eggplant). Both dishes were amazing-the sauce on the Angelica I could drink. This is our favorite of her restaurants-great service always, and the ambiance/decor is amazing. This beats most or all Italian restaurants that I have eaten at in California, and is relatively inexpensive! Two more restaurants to complete our Summer, but we might have to revisit Cucina Rustica! read more

Cucina Rustica - Eggplant Parmigian - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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I'll start that my husband and I are huge fans of Lisa Dahl and have enjoyed so many meals at several of her restaurants over the past decade, but sadly we were left very disappointed by Cucina Rustica. Our server was fine overall, but not on par with our other experiences at other Dahl restaurants. We had just dined at Mariposa a couple of nights before and had an excellent experience. My husband ordered the lamb chops and what came out from the kitchen were two very small chops, three wedged potatoes and four asparagus for $54. His chops were very overdone, so much so that he sent them back which he very rarely sends a meal back. It took well over 25-30 min for the re-fire to come out and again it was not as ordered. My filet was just okay and had the same three potatoes and four thin asparagus. The manager never came to ask if everything was okay or if there was anything they could do after the issue. My husband and I both have worked in the restaurant business and fine dining in the past so this really stood out to us as a major red flag. Really bad experience. I would message directly, but they did request our feedback which we did provide, but it seemed to be disregarded. Just food for thought on anyone choosing to dine here. read more

Beautiful restaurant: vibrant and warm ambiance, great staff: attentive and knowledgeable while being really efficient. No bread on the table. Too expensive food and wine for a very basic food: no creativity whatsoever in the dishes; food is tasting good but no "wow" reaction. read more

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The ambiance was beautiful outside. They are so attentive and welcoming. It was one of the nicer meals I planned and it didn't disappoint.

We love the Dahl restaurants! We especially love Dahl & Deluca and Cucina Rustica. Tonight we tried a lot of their specials. We tried the appetizer special, and two main entree specials. One entree specials was the ribeye and another was a seafood pasta with scallops, mussels and shrimp (Fruita del mar). We also got the meatball appetizer. The meatball app is amazing as was the burrata appetizer special. The ribeye was okay .. def not my favorite. The tomato salad lacked imagination, it looked like they were running low on the chimichurri sauce and has spread it as thin as possible on the ribeye, the asparagus lacked flavor and a good sear, but the potato wedges were good. I have gotten their filet in the past and they definitely was the better dish. The seafood pasta was okay as well... not a wow factor. I like the ambiance of Cucina but if you want a more romantic setting, Dahl is definitely the better location... One thing I did notice.. both my husband and I did... At Dahl you never have to worry about your water glass being empty. Here we had to ask for it to be filled and then it never got filled again. Additionally, at Dahl they bring out a bread basket with some amazing garlic and basil infused olive oil.... Here they didn't have that. I will say our server was very kind and knowledgeable. He was very good at his job and did make the experience very pleasant. read more

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The atmosphere is beautiful, the service is excellent. I would say the food is hit or miss and some of the serving sizes are very skimpy especially for the high end cost. The first time we ate at Cucina Rustica we had a very delicious appetizer plate which was a serving for two... however only two small basically half slices of bread with which to eat a bruschetta and the other food items in the appetizer. The appetizer was very good even though the serving of bread was disappointing and a bit surprising. Our entrees were very good and were of a size that was satisfying. The second time we ate there the service was as excellent as the first visit. My husband had the chicken parmesan and the portions looked very skimpy to me and later I asked him if he thought that the portions were small and he said yes, but however his food was very good. I am sorry to say my selection of veal saltimbocca was not good. The veal was like leather and the large quantity of sauce was overpoweringly salty which made the accompanying gnocchi salty as well. The only flavor in the dish was salt. And my steamed broccoli was half warm and half cold. My dish cost $42, which considering the poorly cooked meal was exorbitant. I will still patronize this restaurant because the food that was good was very good and I believe in giving second chances. (The only difference being that next time if my food is not up to par I will tell our server.) Plus the atmosphere and the service are outstanding. read more

Excellent ambience and service- thankyou to our waiter Isiah for his first class customer service. Food was very tasty - great pasta selection and drinks- thank you for a wonderful dinner! read more

Food: I ordered the Don Quixote pasta and it was phenomenal!! The salted caramel gelato was always soooo tasty Service: our server was great, she was very accommodating and attentive Ambiance: such a romantic and cute atmosphere I absolutely loved it in there Drinks: we ordered espresso martinis and wow one of the best I've had! Parking: shared lot, easy to find parking read more

Cucina Rustica - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

We made reservations and dropped in for a lovely dinner out. The service was friendly and fast. The kitchen was able to accommodate changes for any food allergies. The food was incredible! Don't skip the Burratta (if you're into it). The Bolognese was incredible. The restaurant had a nice moody, cozy feel. Would love to go back again. read more

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We had a wonderful dinner at Cucina Rustica. I can't think of anything that would have made it better. From the ambience to the service to the meal everything was perfect for celebrating our 39th anniversary. My cousin recommended you and we are so glad we decided to follow it. It helped make our time in Sedona that much more memorable! read more

Cucina Rustica - Fresh rose petals for our anniversary - Italian Near Me - Sedona, Arizona

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As you enter this restaurant with Old World Charm you are transported to an Italian Villa. We were seated in a private area towards the back of the restaurant and they acknowledged our anniversary with some rose petals on the table. We started with some appetizers: server was super nice and attentive. She recommended the house made focaccia bread and oh my that was delicious with a nice olive oil that had some chile peppers for a nice kick. We also ordered the Caprese appetizer which was just okay. For our main course there were several fish specials which is what I would normally order but decided to stick to the chicken Parmesan which you can't usually mess up and hubby ordered the filette do manzo or filet mignon. He said is was cooked well and came with potatoes and asparagus. I wasn't that excited about my dish because it was a bit on the salty side. For dessert we ordered the crème brûlée even though we were sooo full and it was a nice finish to our meal. Overall I would this place another try maybe it was just what I ordered but the service impeccable, ambiance is 10/10. read more

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The service was abysmal. Slow between courses. 10 minutes to get check. Spouses dish was too spicy despite being assured it would be made mild. Food: a solid b. Lacking in flavor for bruschetta and burrata Caesar salad was all ribs. Not worth finishing. And the vanilla bean gelato was freezer burned. Best dish was the biscotti. The tira misu was solid . I would not return despite the overall positive reviews. And a 3% business tax b add on to offset good cost instead of raising prices. Seems the same to me. read more