Honestly I'm really mad. I really wanted this place to be my new home in Tacoma where I come here every Sunday for food that is actually good and really Italian. Instead, I have run into a situation where the waitress told me that because they had two servers attending on my table. She didn't believe me when I said that I was falsely charged for a second glass of Rose. I pay bills for a living. I'm an accounts payable clerk I pay my bills and when someone doesn't believe me that I owe them money I send them packing slips to prove to them that I need to pay them my bills, so I am genuinely offended when someone tells me they don't believe me when I told them that I was overcharged. read more

we were really excited to come here tonight, heard a lot of good things about this place. called a week prior to make a reservation for my husbands birthday. tonight, we checked in, had nowhere to stand inside, so we stepped outside. we stood in the cold for 30+ minutes, checked back in and they said "people are checked out, we're just waiting on them to leave". we asked them to call us when our table was ready to which they said okay. 15 minutes later, still no call. we left. why make a reservation if you aren't going to be sat for more than 45+ minutes? you guys need to have a time limit policy if your restaurant is going to be that small. read more

Made a reservation and it was so busy we had to wait outside in the cold. We were told we "had to wait for people to leave" to get a seat. What's the point in a reservation lol read more

We did not have a good experience with Macaluso's and we never even got to eat there! I called to make a reservation for a Friday a few weeks ago, and it was taken by a lovely hostess. However, when I called a few days later to see about moving the reservation to Saturday, the hostess very curtly stated that she had no record of my name, phone number, or having a reservation. I tried to ask a few follow up questions but she interrupted me every time restating that she had nothing down for my name/number. She ended up interrupting me again to put my reservation down for the Saturday. My fiancé was not happy with the way I was treated, and called to speak to the manager and cancel our reservation a few days later. The manager seemed nice and apologetic on the phone, but when they went to hang up my fiancé heard the manager ask "what the f*** was that about?" in a judgmental tone. I don't think he realized my fiancé could still hear him. We're very disappointed with the service there and certainly will not try to dine here again. read more

We had first been to Macaluso's a year ago and thought the bolognese was so good that we came back for it for our family birthday again. We were a party of five at 5:00 and we were immediately seated at the largest table in the middle of the room. We had a reservation. Someone brought us water and menus and then it was like we slipped into another dimension and became invisible. Wait staff was walking back and forth past us but no one ever stopped. There was an older gentleman who was going from table to table asking how everything was, but he didn't come to our table. Finally, at 5:25 a manager came out and apologized saying our server had gotten too busy and took our drink orders. Drinks came out and then we were ignored again long enough for all of us to finish our drinks. A woman came then and took our food orders. Food arrived after a long wait and was cold. Ordered dessert, and then dessert and checks were brought out. Finished dessert and waited another 20 minutes for someone to collect the credit cards. We split the bill two ways so nothing crazy. I'm stymied. Everyone in the place seemed to get great service but us. It was busy but the wait staff did not seem overwhelmed. I don't know what happened. I'm hoping this was just a bad night and we will probably try them again. My 81 year old father lived in Italy as a youth and really loves the bolognese here! read more

Was in the mood for Italian food and didn't want to drive to Seattle for our usual spot. Called last minute and got a reservation for two right when they opened at 4pm. Interior is nicely decorated and service was very attentive. Ordered the Arancini for the appetizer and some warm focaccia bread. Both were delicious. I ordered the seafood linguine and wifey got the clam linguine. Both were delicious with homemade pasta cooked perfectly al dente. Great seasonings with rich flavors. Definitely a great local option for Italian food. Not as good as our Seattle spot but MUCH closer! read more

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We were seated in the bar in an adorable alcove. Everything about our meal was fabulous. The food was sublime, the atmosphere made us feel like we were at Sunday dinner in an Italian families home. The bartender and servers (Jessica) were super friendly, helpful and spot on with their recommendations and service. This is Tacoma's best Italian restaurant in every way. read more

Wow wow wow ! My wife and I came here on a Tuesday for date night and we were not disappointed! Every staff member we interacted with went above and beyond to make our evening special. From grating Parmesan to refilling drinks and even packaging up food to go - so amazing! I had the focaccia bread and the Big Max pizza and my wife had the Casa Salad and Vegan/Dairy Free lasagna. I almost ordered the pizza AND a pasta dish because I couldn't make up my mind. We will for sure be back so that I can try other menu items! Also, not pictured are our cocktails. I had The Don (Manhattan) and she had The Sofia Loren (gin). read more

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Laura, (owner) is so lovely and has assembled a wonderful crew. We were shopping the Pearl District for small business Saturday and asked the locals where to go and two different shops owners suggested Macaluso's! That was a wonderful recommendation. We ate at the rail in the bar. Jami and S were great servers. Both the restaurant and bar were packed. Please make a reservation. The service and food are ***** FIVE STARS! read more

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We found Macaluso's last year, after a trip to Zoo Lights at Point Defiance Zoo, they sponsor the Flamingo lights. We had no reservations last year, waited for a table, sat in the bar, food and service was wonderful, this is now a Christmas Tradition. While eating in the bar was fun, the Restaurant itself simply has an amazingly cozy atmosphere, dim but not dark, quiet enough to have good conversation. This year we had reservations, showed up a bit early, had a short wait, we were called a few minutes later that they had a table for us. From the moment we walked in, we were treated like friends, Jessica took care of us, what an absolute pleasure, so personable, enjoyable, if you meet here ask her about the elderly fellow she treated to the "special" Peroni's. The food was wonderful, the staff simply amazing, every one of them. We had a wonderful chat with Max, and Jami has an amazing trip coming up. We will be back, for sure, at least once a year, you have become our newest Christmas Tradition. Thank you all so very very much, have a Happy and Prosperous New Year, you have certainly made ours enjoyable. read more

Went here on a date night with my boyfriend. The front desk lady seemed upset that we didn't have a reservation but sat us right away. The black curtains covering the doorway was a little odd. The Food took a while, which is understandable for a "fancy" restaurant. The drinks were great. We had the salmon cakes, they were delicious but a bit dry. I had the pasta with artichokes and it lacked flavor. My boyfriend had some pasta dish with shellfish. Neither of us were too impressed with the food, a bit overpriced and underwhelming. Not likely to return. read more

My girlfriend and I were incredibly lucky to walk into this beautiful restaurant in Ruston and be seated quickly as walk-ins, thanks to the amazing hostess. Hands down, service was the highlight of the night--not just the hostess, but everyone who waited on us was incredibly friendly, funny, or polite. The restaurant had a lot of great character. The food and drinks, on the other hand, were underwhelming. Let's start with the drinks: if you've seen my reviews, you know I always try every Old Fashioned I possibly can. Those who share the same love know that Old Fashioneds are supposed to come with a beautiful block of ice that helps keep the cocktail in form. Instead, it came with chips of ice that melted within a couple of minutes, diluting my drink. My gorgeous girlfriend ordered the passion fruit margarita, which she thoroughly enjoyed. I wish I had taken a picture of the Brussels sprouts and focaccia bread. Both were the stars of the food items we ordered. The bread was fresh, and the Brussels sprouts were perfectly crisp, although the Gorgonzola slightly overwhelmed the dish. The pasta was a little bland but tasted fresh, and the pizza was incredibly salty with a non-existent undercarriage. For the price point, you want a little more consistency from the kitchen. This isn't a one-and-done for me; I'm coming back because I know this establishment has a higher ceiling than what hit my table. read more

Macaluso's Italian Restaurant - MARGHERITA - Italian Near Me - Ruston, Washington

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The food was decently priced for the portions. The cocktails definitely gave you your moneys worth! The food had good flavor, but everyone in the party got sick after dinner. I'm not sure what caused us to all get sick. It might have been something bad or it may have just been too rich for our systems. I did not know we needed a reservation since we are not local to Tacoma so I was thankful there was space in the bar. The restaurant and bar are very small (family owned) so make a reservation or make sure you arrive when they open so you can eat in the bar! read more

My friend and I went here midweek and it was crowded! I was glad we made a reservation. We started off with the focaccia bread and marinara, as well as the arancini. Both were very good, and definitely do not skip the marinara with the bread. We shared a Caesar which was also super good, and got the Alfredo for our entree - 10/10! Highly recommend. Our server was very friendly and the spot itself is super cute, and in a fun neighborhood. read more

In a nice area of town and one of the few Italian options in Tacoma. The service was good and the food was better than average.

I took my wife out to dinner here last night for her birthday. This was my second visit to this restaurant. My first was on Father's Day with my daughter, and it was brunch on a Sunday. This first time the food was good and the service was exceptional. So thought I would good place to have my wife birthday dinner. Macaluso did not disappoint. My wife had the OSSO Bucco, which was seasoned perfectly and the meat was very tender. I had the Alfredo Macaluso. This was the most delicious pasta dish I have ever had. Besides the food being over the top with both taste and portions, the services were excellent. Our waiter was willing to answer our questions; he checked on us regularly, and he never rushed us with ordering or our meal. Our waiter separated our leftovers into individual boxes, labeled them with the restaurant's name, and labeled each box with the contents. If you're searching for a small, quaint restaurant with excellent food and exceptional service. This is where you should explore. We will be going back soon. read more

Wow! I say again, Wow! Spectacular food and even more spectacular service! From the moment you enter and meet the hostess, you know you are going to experience something special! We were a group of 6 women who started a "Fancy Dinner Night" group where we pick a new (to us) restaurant, dress up, and go out for a ladies' night. This was our first month of the new tradition, and the bar has been set high for future events! I came across Macaluso's on Yelp and read all the great reviews, so we decided to give it a try! It did not disappoint! They have an incredible sommelier, James, who helped guide us to the perfect wine for our dinner. He shared with us his expert knowledge and truly has a talent. It was an absolute pleasure to talk with James throughout the evening as he stopped by from time to time to check in and even graced us with a sample of a splendid wine from a Lake Chelan Vinyard. Our server, Jack, was exceptional as well! You can tell he has a passion for food and loves what he does. He was excellent at providing us with useful information to guide us through the menu of delicious options! Everyone was incredibly pleased with their choice! Jack was personable and knowledgeable, which made the dining experience even better! I highly recommend coming here for your future dining experience! Definitely call ahead and make reservations! I'm so glad we did! Here are just a couple of pictures I took. I had the chicken Marsala, which was amazing! Two of my friends got the Costata Di Malle (pork chop), and I finished off the meal with a Limocello flute. All the food was delicious! read more

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We've been a couple times now, and while the service each time has been great - the wait staff are so friendly & attentive - the food and drinks have been consistently subpar. The pasta was fine but overpriced, and the pizza would've fit in nicely at Pizza Hut. I appreciate the variety of dishes, but we havent had anything yet that justifies returning. read more

I absolutely love Italian and was having trouble finding one, but I have found the one. Definitely preplan your dinner here, because the wait is super long and sometimes you still won't get a table if you just drop by. Everything I have tried is good. The bread and carbonara are my top faves. The staff has always been friendly and the ambiance is nice and quiet. Will definitely come back! read more

Macaluso's Italian Restaurant - Carbonara, pizza - Italian Near Me - Ruston, Washington

This place will be my new favorite for Italian cuisine, you have to RSVP for this restaurant. So, make sure to give them call before it even open and try to get a hold of someone there. I spoke with this lovely lady, I think her name is Lanette. She is nice and great to talk to. We came here before 10 mins prior to our RSVP time and the table is ready already. Lanette is the host who I spoke with and she set us down as well. There menu are bunch of my fav dishes I would like and try. We got the fried risotto ball for our appetizer, and as for our main entrée. My friend ordered the Chicken chicken parm parm and one of their special cocktail!!! I got their Chicken and homemade sausage alfredo. The food came a little slower, but it was because they are busy. So, it is understandable. We finally got our food and it was delicious. I enjoyed a lot and told myself I will be coming back here very soon. That is how good the food is here! read more

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Weird entrance where you are surrounded by dirty black curtains separating you from the tables and no lobby or area to wait. NO bread service. Waited 30 minutes for one side Caesar salad and (under fried) calamari then our mains came out a minute later? Server took the mains away so we could enjoy the apps first but when my carbonara was delivered later it was cold. Pasta overwhelmed by too much salty pancetta. Too expensive....$16 for a 2" square of tiramisu for dessert. Hard wood chairs and dirty fork....Underwhelming service. 1.5 hours later we finally got to leave . First and last time going there. read more

My partner said the lasagna was the best he has ever had. My very pesto tagliatelle with a bit of chicken was pretty good. Have to agree with Girliegirl H. that the tiny entrance area walled off with black curtains and absolutely no place to wait, or even for another party to come in out of the rain, is awkward. Admittedly, the restaurant is quite small, one room (seating a bit crowded) and I imagine that given the building and location any expansion is out of the question. The prices were firmly on the high side, but my man still wants to return for the lasagna. I would go back and just order gelato, which is not plentiful in Tacoma. Oh the lovely gelato shops I left behind in Eugene! read more

We stopped in to grab dinner and sat at the bar which is a few steps away from the actual restaurant. The restaurant was packed and we didn't have a reservation. Partner ordered the shrimp pasta and added clams, I opted for the caprese and meatballs. The pasta was fine, nothing special to be honest. The shrimp felt like or was frozen, the clams were good. The caprese was probably my favorite dish, it was fresh and had a good amount of balsamic and pesto drizzle. The meatballs were very fennel forward and had a good bite to them. Service is super friendly, she checked in on us often, asked clarifying questions, etc. Would say ambiance is okay since we dined outside, we heard the noise of the street, I think had we dined inside it would have been fine since no one was eating in the bar. Unfortunately, there was flies flying around inside which was why we opted to sit outside. The prices were a bit steep, which is understandable for the type of restaurant but not sure it was justifiable given the quality. Service was 5/5. read more

Macaluso's Italian Restaurant - CAPRESE meatballs shrimp pasta add clams - Italian Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Food, table service, and ambiance were very good. We did make reservations and after finishing our dessert a manager came up and told us that he apologized but needed our table for other guests. It was a busy Sunday night and I think more often than not reservations are required. We were at our table for 2 hours. We promptly left. I have never been asked to leave a restaurant based on a time limit. There were 4 of us and we just spent a sizable amount. Sadly this was my first time here and it is doubtful I will ever go back. read more

Was really wanting to Love this restaurant. When I made the reservation they asked me if I was celebrating anything and I was (Anniversary), well they did nothing special for us which was a disappointment. The server was great!!! The appetizers were delicious. The focaccia bread was a little salty. The pasta dishes were a disappointment. The carbonara was very Smokey and had too much pancetta in it. The Alfredo Macaluso was not creamy like Alfredo sauce and it had too much garlic and the chicken was dry. I did return my dish and got the Gnocchi which was good however the sauce a little spicy. Got the tiramisu for dessert which was a little dry needed more creamy goodness. The Ambiance was great as well. read more

Almost everything was what you want for a night out. Salt level is the only -, but that is a personal preference. Would eat there again without batting an eye. read more

Food was really yummy! The mushroom ravioli was a ten however the minestrone soup was underwhelming. I find it really hard to go to an Italian restaurant when they don't serve free bread I think that's a little crappy. Another thing I'd note is that it is very expensive. 10-15 dollars more than I would pay at any other Italian restaurant. Overall I had a nice time but I wouldn't go again. Service wasn't great the waitress was pretty passive aggressive. For example I asked for a to go cup for my leftover soup and she said no that they didn't package up the soup because most people didn't take it to go and they didn't have containers. However you can get their marinara sauce to go so would that not be in some sort of soup like container? I don't know it was just weird stuff like that. Ambiance was fine. The tables were lined with like packing paper and that makes it feel cheap. For a 42 dollar pasta I think they can afford table clothes. read more

Macaluso's Italian Restaurant - PORTABELLO RAVIOLI - Italian Near Me - Ruston, Washington

Service is amazing! Food always on point. The only italian restaurant we frequent. The atmosphere is also nice, can get a little noisy, but very quaint. Love this place!! read more

I have been there a couple times now and the hostess has been rude and always has a tone. Food was good.

A great Italian spot! Very happy with my meal that was recommended by the waitress. It's smaller on the inside so come early & enjoy!

Fantastic food, good vibes. Brought my wife here on a date. Would definitely recommend!

Great food, great service, intimate atmosphere. Easy to fill up on delicious appetizers. Pace yourself or share before the main event!

Excellent Italian dinner! If you for sure want to eat at the restaurant then definitely make a reservation. We ended up at the bar next door which serves the exact same food, you're just in a smaller space and not in the restaurant. I had an orange cocktail which was tasty. For appetizers we shared the burrata which was delicious and the mussels, they were by far some of the best I've had. Along with that we got the focaccia bread. I had the clam linguine which was very tasty. The seafood pasta was also very delicious. Our food order somehow got missed so it took a while but our waitress made it right with a dessert. We shared the limoncello cake which was very light and tasty. It was definitely a tasty dinner! read more

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Made reservations at 4:00, at opening, for my birthday. Daughter drove down from Seattle just for my birthday dinner. At being seated, the waitress took our orders for cocktails and suggested we might want focaccia bread too, didn't tell us what the specials for the night were, even though we heard other waiters telling guests what they were. We ordered the bread as an appetizer. The drinks came, but not bread. 1/2 hr. later, dinner arrived at the same time as the bread. Then, when we had been there 1 hr. and 45 min. a man came to our table - didn't identify himself - just told us we had 10 minutes to finish and leave because they had other people waiting for our table. I looked around the restaurant and saw 2 other empty tables for 4. Plus a table for 6 where people had been seated before us, were still sitting at their table enjoying dessert. This is a restaurant we have gone to before for special family occasions, like Mother's Day brunch and anniversaries. Not going again. Never been treated this way before. There was no one at the hostess stand when we left, and no big line of people waiting to get in. The food was also a step down from what we were used to. So sad. Don't bother unless you want to get in and out quickly. read more

We went here for our anniversary, we'd been trying to come for awhile it just hadn't worked out for us. Strongly encourage reservations, it is a smallish restaurant, it was a Thursday evening and still pretty busy. The servers are all friendly and knowledgeable. My drink was okay, refreshing but I think I overdid it with basil on pretty much everything I ordered so my drink, also containing basil, tasted just like basil water with a slight orange aftertaste. The food though, amazing. The house made focaccia to the in-house mozzarella. Everything is made from scratch so it takes a little time for your food, but when it comes it's worth it. The chicken parmigiana was HUGE! We did not have any room left for dessert and already determined we'd be back again. read more

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In a world of inauthentic, bland fake Italian cuisine, Macaluso stands out as a gem in the sea. From beautifully crafted dishes, mosaics of gourmet delight, and drinks of heaven, Macaluso is the Italian restaurant of the PNW. In a warm ambiance, blissful music, and a collage of family history, it truly does feel like a seat at the Macaluso's dinner table. Being sat in the bar not only gave off an intimate feel, but the drinks were the best ones I've ever had. Having been to many restaurants and working in the industry myself, Megan is truly the best bartender/ drink maker I've ever witnessed. From being patient and educating me about my palate when I was indecisive to making up a drink just for me based on what I liked, she's truly the best bartender ever. Furthermore, Megan was very attentive and quick to help me, even though I could tell she was doing the work of many. She was truly the queen of hospitality, and I look forward to taking my close ones to enjoy the food, service, drinks, and atmosphere. I was truly blessed to have had the true Macaluso experience! read more

We ate here last night and the entries were way too salty. We did not finish either one. We had high hopes as the bread and salad was very good but I found the meatballs below par and my with entree was far too salty and she ate half before giving up. Does anyone spot check by tasting this food? Evidently not. Very disappointing and we won't be back read more

The food was absolutely amazing for me, I got the Costolette Di Agnello (racks of lamb, mash potatoes but a very smooth thick texture, and veggies) the lamb was cooked to perfection for me (medium rare) it tasted honestly like back home in AZ the way my culture made it- it took me back & was an amazing experience . My partner got the Linguine pescatore which seafood linguine (shrimp,clams,mussels, scallops) which was very good as well. Got the appetizer Vongole Saltate which is clams in white wine etc. The Customer Service was great from accidentally going to bar side & being escorted to restaurant side, to the hostess & server being great & easy to talk to, the hostess explained the menu perfectly & checked in on perfect timing. The environment is romantic, you get little lamp on your table it sets the mood. The drinks we got (only 2 tequila cocktails they had) they were very freshing and good hitters. Prior to end of night we told the hostess we were celebrating our anniversary & were given a congratulations card signed by the staff which meant a lot! Definitely would come back! read more

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Sunday night, Great service, restaurant was busy, so we sat on the bar area. Started with house Salad, it was tasty. Nice Blue Moon beer, Cabernet Sav. Main meal: Gnocchi was ok. I had an old favorite eggplant parm, eggplant was chewy, also felt had too much cheese.(price $30) Underwhelmed read more

Macaluso's Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Ruston, Washington

We stopped by this charming neighborhood restaurant on a whim after moving to the area. It was busy on a Friday night, but we managed to get squeezed in at 9 PM--maybe a mistake since they close at 10. The atmosphere was lively, with birthday celebrations and even the chef's family dining there. We ordered a pizza, carbonara spaghetti, and a pork chop from the specials menu. The pizza arrived first and was delicious, but the carbonara and pork chop didn't come out until after closing at 10:10 PM. Both dishes were hot but both overwhelmingly salty. The carbonara lacked balance, and the pork chop--though tender--was over-salted to the point of being unpleasant. The mashed potatoes had a unique, pudding-like texture that left us curious about the ingredients. Since it was late, we didn't send the food back, but the staff acknowledged the delay and comped a tiramisu, which was enjoyable but couldn't salvage the experience. We'd return for pizza and salads, but we'd steer clear of pasta and meat dishes. It's clear the staff and chef work hard, but spending money on a disappointing meal stings--especially when it wakes you up at 4 AM with indigestion and the urge to write a review. read more