We sat at our table for over 20 minutes without anyone coming to our table. I finally went to the bar to order drinks and an appetizer. The table next to us had 3 different waitresses delivery food and beverages completely ignoring us. The patrons at the other table were allowed to vape, and did so in front of the waitress. When our food was delivered it was cold. The drinks we ordered were wrong. And to top off this terrible experience, I had to go to the kitchen to get silverware. Very disappointing. I really looked forward dining here. read more

Food was inedible. I got the chicken piccata and it arrived at the table in this weird, congealed sauce and the chicken was practically raw. The other dish was fettuccine Alfredo and the sauce tasted like jarred sauce gone bad. read more

Atmosphere was laid back and service was great. Pizza was burnt on bottom and salad was missing radish. Was told that was a fluke as normally all food is on point. Would be willing to give it another shot. read more

Second time that we have eaten here. We only pass through the area once every few months. Always impressed by the friendliness of the staff. Everyone is always looking out for you, not just your assigned waiter. We have tried something new each time we came and have yet to be disappointed. We definitely plan to return when our travels take us that way. read more

We really enjoyed our dishes - Chicken Rigatoni and Bolognese Spaghetti. The Mozzarella sticks were really good but there were a lot and too much for us two. But the best thing was the garlic oil they serve with thin sliced bread. You can get that on Pasta and the Gambino Shrimp and it is spectacular. We went for late lunch on a Saturday so it was quiet and the atmosphere was very cool. Also has great service. Wish we'd had room for dessert. read more

Effina's - Bolognese spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Anniston, Alabama

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By far the best service ever!!! Joseph you out did yourself for sure. Keep working through school you are going to go far. Thank you for making the amazing food taste even more amazing! read more

I'm not sure what changed on this visit, but everything was seasoned perfectly-big improvement. I had the Bolognese with cheese tortelloni and it was the best pasta dish I had ever had. SUPER meaty. The umami was intense with the cheese. Definitely will be back to try out other dishes. Just wish they had risotto on the menu. read more

Food is okay alittle, expensive . 20 years ago, I think the service was much better ,

Perfect spot great food loved the service. Food was cooked just right and a home cooked meal

Decided to come here and have a beer or two and get something to eat. Our server to begin with was so sweet and nice then the bartender came in, she definitely was being rude from the beginning. First she was whispering to our server infront of us and staring at us like we were doing something wrong. She had a super nasty attitude it was so awkward that we paid for our drinks and left didn't get any food. We always tip good and are so nice but she was judging us from the second she came in. Heidi was the bartender and I wouldn't sit and have a beer around her ever again. This was my first time and we were super excited to come and she just ruined it. read more

The last two times I've gone to Effina's the marinara has come out like this. I'm done. The water-marinara sauce isn't good. On the other hand, great calamari. read more

Effina's - Italian Near Me - Anniston, Alabama

A older building in downtown Anniston al. Was visiting friends and they took me to dinner here Sat. night. I love older places like this, mismatched tables, very casual, great service. I had the Lasagna, is was very good, very cheesy, some others in our group had The Cajun pasta, she said it was also very good and one had the eggplant parmesan, another winner, if I lived in this area, I would sure be a regular customer. The bread and dipping sauce to start out with was excellent, kept bring all we wanted. Very good all around experience read more

The Food was Great! The Service top tier considering it was busy this particular day that I went as matter of fact, it was lunchtime. Everybody that was a waiter was on point even if it wasn't their table, they were willing to help you out. The ambience was great. This is actually my first time visiting the place and I do believe I will go back for the food. Maybe even try something different but the food was good you would not be disappointed. Please go out and visit I am not known for doing reviews, but I will give this five stars. read more

we did a last minute reservation for 10 people. They were easily able to accommodate us, and had the table set up before we got there. Service was very good, food was excellent. read more

Staff was very friendly and the atmosphere was pleasant. I had the Voodoo Pasta and must say it was delicious! We will definitely return and we highly recommend them. read more

Currently here. Sat at the bar first waiting for a table which is understandable Bc it was busy. But once seated our server took a million years to come by and only got drink orders for half the table and app orders for half the table. Did not come back with bread or at all until I flagged down another sever, T. Who was absolutely delightful. She was not even our server but she was attentive and got the attention of our designated server, who I guess realized her shortcomings Bc she all of a sudden she showed up. Beside that, the food was just ok. Like I've reviewed before the food is just ok but I keep want to give this place a chance. read more

Not a glowing review about the food; it's Olive Garden quality. The wait staff is wonderful! They absolutely make you feel welcomed.

AMAZING. quick service and amazing waitresses. the image is so so cute and it's easy to find.place is kept clean and homely. will be going often read more

I have been going here since I was twelve years old. Since then, as you can imagine, I've grown a bit. But, I've never outgrown the taste of freshly spit on Mariana sauce, served with a side of "I Don't Get Paid Enough To Stroke Your Five O'Clock Shadow That You Sharpied Onto Your Face, Boozer," and a dash of "Grandpa is rolling in his grave," with my pasta! read more

Great little hidden spot! In town visiting family and my sister in law was bragging about this spot! Tried it and I was not disappointed! Best chicken alfredo pasta! Super creamy! Some side salad with Alabama in the title lol is the way to go! Sweet basil vinaigrette dressing was soooooo good! Topped it off with this lemon custard dessert topped with blueberries!!!! Yummmmy! Owner and staff super friendly! It's a must try! read more

Effina's - Italian Near Me - Anniston, Alabama

We had one of the best Italian meals we ever had. We had an amazing salad with feta cheese and roasted glazed pecans, a variety of greens and the best sweet basil dressing we ever ate. Then we had an amazing Tuscan pizza with artichokes, spinach, feta cheese, mushrooms, onions, it was great! Our appetizer was sliced, homemade bread with a garlic dipping sauce. We finished the meal off with an amazing tiramisu that we shared with two spoons. The best! Our server was Olivia and she did a wonderful job. read more

We are in town for a bike event and needed some good food...Effina's did not disappoint. Crystal was an awesome and attentive server... food was fast and delicious! If you want pasta dishes, this is the place to be! Calamari was lightly floured and came with yummy sauces. The Voodoo pasta was amazing and the food was seasoned perfectly! The Tiramisu was rich and delish! read more

Amazing food always to notch. We eat here almost ever Sunday. The service is great the wait staff is always on top of their game. And the atmosphere is great. Love the miss matched tables and chairs. read more

Our tour group got into Anniston really late, and we were thankful that Effina's still held the door open for us. To make things easier on everyone, the tour leader arranged ahead of time for an abbreviated menu. It consisted of four pasta choices (mediterranean, diablo, primavera, and a chicken parmesan dish) and two desserts (banana ice cream, tiramisu). Call us surprised when the meal included a choice of salad (mixed greens with sweet basil, Caesar) as well! I ordered the mixed greens, the diablo, and tiramisu. I was too tired to drink, but I noticed the generous full bar nonetheless. The mixed greens salad was fresh and crisp. The sweet basil dressing had an interesting flavor though its consistency was thick like a bleu cheese dressing. The basil flavor was delicate and understated. I think had the dressing been thinned out a bit more it would have been more prominent. The diablo pasta consisted of chicken, shrimp, and sausage served with a vodka cream scene over fettuccine noodles. The meats were cooked appropriately and the shrimp was easily the best contributor to the dish. I found the chicken to be slightly dry and the sausage a bit oily. In addition, the cream sauce cooled quickly so it made the dish a bit uncomfortable to eat. The tiramisu was wonderful. The ladyfingers weren't dried out and the coffee flavor penetrated through all the layers. The kitchen wasn't stingy with the marscapone either; it was delightful. Our server was very attentive and polite and ran our food on time. I wish I could say the same about other tables. Sad to say, part of our group sitting behind us didn't even have salads and drinks on the tables by the time we were well into our entrees. I can't say if the server was new or what the hold up was, but they were distressed. Hiccups aside -- and yes, there were more than a few -- I'm adding another star simply because at no point in the visit did the staff make us feel unwelcome. Our trip -- as you'll see if you keep reading my reviews -- was filled with unexpected timing issues. Some of them were due to traffic; others, who knows? The staff at Effina's remained gracious and appreciative. It's service like that that should keep customers coming back, even if meals aren't perfect. read more

Effina's - Italian Near Me - Anniston, Alabama

Update- went for dinner on a Friday night...should have known better but what the hey. The specials were nothing special. I ordered the pork chop which was $30 too much. And I thought there was a pandemic going on bc this place was NOT social distancing and peeps were not wearing masks. It made me feel Leary in staying but the hubs wanted to eat there. I kept my mask on when I was not eating. Service was mediocre so was the food for there to be a gazllion people's. Probably won't be coming back unless they add better stuff to the menu and limit the amount to people but then again I thought the fire code did that. read more

Just had lunch at Effina's after eyeing this restaurant on each visit to the area. It was so worth the wait. We had Scallops Gambini, pizza and tiramisu. Every bite of it was delicious. Crystal our server was friendly, informative and did a great job! Did I mention the homemade Italian bread? Don't miss Effina's if you are in the area! read more

The voodoo pasta changed my life. Highly recommend stopping by next time your in Anniston!

I really enjoyed this restaurant. Wonderful Italian food. Family friendly. I enjoyed the bread and the lasagna entree.

I hate doing this. Honestly, I love this place and genuinely hope that someone in ownership see this and hears what I'm saying objectively. We called in for curbside and even asked if curbside was still available. We were told it was but that it might not be fast. We were okay with that. Placed our order and when we called to have our food brought to us we were told by another employee that there was no longer curbside. So I went in to a nearly empty restaurant and three waitresses standing in the bar area. They were not busy. In total I counted 6 employees. There were three other customers in the restaurant. If you tell someone your going to do something then you should do it. There is a difference in not being able to do something and not wanting to do something. I'm extremely disappointed with the poor service. We have frequented this restaurant throughout the pandemic because it's locally owned and we felt a sense of obligation to our neighbors. I don't appreciate this at all. The food was good as always but the middle aged blonde (I only point that out for reference) that decided not to serve us as promised was wrong. Maybe she shouldn't be in charge. We will be back because we want you to succeed. I mean that. read more

Small portions for what you pay for. I had the Chicken marsala with mashed potatoes. I left more hungry than when I came in. I will not be back. read more

Food was awful, took forever to get food, great waitress working at a terrible restaurant. Appetizers were awful, salad was okay, main course was below the standards of Cracker Barrel. The only thing Effina's had in common with a nice restaurant was the price. read more

My hisband ordered a short rib special. It did not come out until 45 minutes after the other food. No sides were correct. He was given random sides because the kitchen could not be bothered to have our waitress ask him what else he may like with his $45 entree. We were offered a 30% discount and a go box. I ordered a Effina's Hurricane. Hurricanes are my favorite. This one was unpalatable. It was bitter and just awful. I tried to add Splenda and even water to no avail. I was never asked why my drink sat almost full. When the manager, Ketti, who was also the bartender, came over to talk to us about the ribs, I told her the Hurricane was not drinkable and that I was never asked about why I wasn't drinking it. She stated that they could not comp alcohol. I suggested she take something else off to compensate or remake it. She walked away. The manager/bartender was on her phone much of the night. Perhaps if she worked as hard and the waitstaff, the bar and kitchen would run better. The Grouper I ordered was superb. We have had great experiences here in the past. This was my go too restaurant for out of town company and birthdays. Effinas was fully staffed so that was not the issue. Maybe the kitchen staff was green or maybe they need new management. I hope it is corrected if I can ever convince my husband to return. read more

Prompt friendly service. Today's special Tuscan Chicken sandwich with crush french fries very tasty. Economical price. Nice decor and good menu. read more

Effina's - Nice bar here. - Italian Near Me - Anniston, Alabama

Excellent little place downtown Anniston. Loved the oil that comes with the bread. Flavored with herbs, garlic and td pepper flakes. Bread was ok but oil was amazing. Our side salads were cold and fresh. We had the Mediterranean pasta, Chicken Rigatoni and Voodoo pasta. All were really good. Our server was excellent. It took a while for our pastas to come out but our waitress kept our drinks full and our bread plentiful. We will be back. read more

Always have a great time there. Food is great every time. Had a bad experience there the last time. Had to set upstairs and then a big party came in behind us and was standing around are table when we were eating. They had no mask on and was talking and yelling no more than two feet away from us. Must of been a birthday party or something. No room for them all to set down. Like they we're waiting on us to leave. It was uncomfortable. I'll be back but I will never set upstairs again. read more

Love the atmosphere and the staff. They have a very good menu selection, and a great steak! My favorite is the mushroom Ravioli!

Was sorely disappointed. Went for our anniversary dinner- first time going here. It is definitely more of a bar than a restaurant from what we experienced. Food was ok, had delicious descriptions & sounded great, but lacked execution of tastes. Said was jalapeño and bourbon cream sauce, all you could taste was the jalapeño. The tiramisu was covered in Hershey's chocolate syrup and lacked flavor. For the price points of the food we just expected more from either the food or the experience. The waitress was nice, but never introduced herself & instead of telling us the specials she set her notebook with written descriptions of the specials on our table for us to look at. In the middle of our dinner several servers sat directly behind us and started rolling silverware so we couldn't hear our conversation whatsoever. The server came & told us later she asked them to move after a while bc it appeared they were disturbing us, ya think? This is 5:30 dinner service & servers think it's ok to roll silver ware right behind 2 people eating dinner? The prices of the fare should be slashed in half since the experience and food completely miss the mark. We rarely get out due to having kids and this was very disappointing. Best thing about the place is the drinks. Should def be advertised as a bar with food, instead of a restaurant. read more

If I could rate this place higher than 5 stars I would! My husband and I just ate dinner here tonight and we are so very glad we did. Our friends who live in Oxford highly recommended it and they were so right. We had the shrimp gambino and the chicken fettuccine alfredo and both were the best Italian food (maybe any kind of food) we've ever eaten and we eat out a lot lol. We ended our meal with the banana pudding which has an entire banana cream moon pie mixed in with fresh bananas and what tasted like homemade meringue on the top. It was delicious! The service was great and Maria was our awesome server. She was very attentive and our drink glasses were never empty. If we're ever in this area again we will definitely eat here again. As someone said in another review - if you're considering dining here JUST GO! You'll be glad you did! *Look for photos I shared of our entrees. read more

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We were in town to see a show at the Oxford performing arts Center and decided to come to dinner at Effina's because it was one of the few places opened on Sunday night. We are so glad we did. Food and service were amazing. I had the Caesar salad, which was honestly one of the best Caesar's I have EVER had, and the rigatoni with chicken. My husband had the veal Marsala which was good. Tierra was our server and was super attentive. What a great place if you are ever in downtown Anniston. read more

Excellent food and service. I had an Italian sub and my husband had chicken parmigiana, they were both delicious. Based on other reviews - I can't wait to go back and try the Voo-doo pasta!! read more